He turned and rebuked them.

Luke 9:51-56, When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.

Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, towards the cross, towards his purpose: to redeem the sin-sick lost with the precious blood of the lamb. And his own disciples were in need of that very sacrifice, but did not yet understand. How easy it is for us to look at others and presume that if we had the power we could simply eliminate them; have we taken the advice Jesus gives, that we must first examine ourselves and remove the log in our own eye before trying to take a splinter out of the eye of another? The disciples first presumed that they had the power to call down fire, and then presumed that they would not also be consumed by that same holy fire, were it to come down! How easy is it for me to act as judge, jury and executioner for another while I have been given such amazing grace; do I ignore others with that same need or do I seek to tell them about the good news?

Give us your eyes to see others as you see them that we may have your compassion in every possible way to bring forth your amazing grace!

ESV Lectionary