Rejected

He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?” But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them, and they went on to another village. – Luke 9:52-56 (CEB)

How quickly, when we are trying to walk with Christ, we fall out of favor with those around us. On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus intentionally went thorough Samaria, a people with historical animosity towards the Jewish people. While a direct route involved going through this land, most travelling from Galilee to Jerusalem would have taken another route in order to avoid the tensions. 

Jesus chose to walk right through them. 

The Samaritans hated the Jews (and vice-versa). The Samaritans had historical roots in belonging to the Norther Kingdom but become intermixed with the Assyrians after they were conquered. Some of the Northern tribes were exiled, while some Assyrians were brought in, creating a new people group. This ethnic convolutedness, brought together with the historical animosity of the Northern tribes and Judah, created two groups with an incredible animus towards each other that spilled over into religion — more specifically where and how to truly worship. One cannot even imagine the deep chasms of mistrust that exist still in the Middle East as these familial ethnic feuds go back thousands and thousands of years. 

One wonders at the the deep nascent mistrust beginning to develop even in newer parts of the world. When allowed to foster and foment, it inevitably leads to separation and war. 

Jesus didn’t avoid this conflict, he walked right into the middle of it. While not detracting from the clarity of his mission for one moment — “You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.” (John 4:22) — by engaging with the Samaritans, Jesus takes the first step towards healing and reconciling work that he himself will ultimately bring. 

“Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:14)

It’s telling of the human condition that he’s openly rejected. No one wants Jesus and the disciples to stay with them when they realize he’s going to see their lifelong adversaries in Jerusalem (a competing place of worship). It’s telling also that Jesus’ own disciples want to punish this personal slight with fire from heaven. 

Eye for eye. Shame for shame. Death for death. 

Doing the work of peace brings conflict. It brings frustration from those deeply rooted in it. Peace requires sacrifice, and humility. It requires uprooting long held beliefs and forgiving injuries that have long since become a part of our identity. Jesus confronts this as he redresses his disciples. 

“This is not my way” he says. “This is not my way.”

It wasn’t then, and it wasn’t now.