Intolerance Rebuked
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"When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, 'Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?' 'You know not what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man has not come to destroy men's lives — but to save them.'" Luke 9:55-56.
It is a circumstance worthy of notice — that the failings of godly men have often been in those points, where there was the least likelihood of their being overcome. Abraham was strong in faith — and yet the darkest spot upon his character was produced by a spirit of distrust, which led to the most unworthy prevarication. Moses was the meekest of men — yet he lost his temper and spoke unadvisedly with his lips. "You have heard of the patience of Job;" for so marked was his calm endurance and submission under unexampled sufferings, that his name has been identified with patience in all ages — yet when he acted inconsistently with his high character, it was in reference to that feature in which he most excelled. And so with John, whom we are accustomed to regard as the embodiment of all that was gentle, loving, compassionate; but he, irritated by the conduct of the Samaritans, displayed a spirit altogether opposed to that tenderness and forbearance which the gospel enjoins.
Had the Saviour complied with the request of John and his brother James on that occasion, what a powerful argument would have been thereby afforded to the enemies of the Christian cause. How triumphantly would they refer to the circumstance as indicative of the spirit of that system to which they are so much opposed. "Go," would have been their language, "to yonder Samaritan village, and see the place reduced to a mass of ruins. View the whole of its hapless inhabitants perishing together. Behold those wretched mothers, with their babes in their arms, consumed without distinction by the devouring flames; and all, forsooth, to avenge the affront received by those upstart fishermen; all to gratify and glut their old Jewish antipathies against the poor and oppressed Samaritans! Go and learn the character of your Christianity there; study its mild and beneficent genius in those cruel deaths and abounding desolations!"
Happily, however, such an occasion of triumph to our enemies was not afforded. The Master was not like-minded with the disciples, as the answer He gave them clearly evinces.
We are thus shown that there may be many things in the conduct of those whose general character is excellent, against which it befits us to be on our guard. What is good in them — we are to imitate; while we are to shun — whatever is censurable. "The best of men — are but men at the best!" How pleasing, then, is the thought that in following Jesus — there is no possibility for us to go astray. He could say in reference to His Heavenly Father, "I always do those things which please Him" — His spirit at all times, and His conduct, on all occasions being altogether such as the divine law required. O gracious Lord! impart unto us more abundantly of that mind which was in You. O gentle Jesus! who is still meek and merciful — help us to learn of You; and may we, by laying aside all malice and resentment, cause those by whom we are surrounded to take knowledge of us, that we are Your disciples indeed.
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