Luke chapter 9

vs 51

As far as Luke is concerned, Jesus knows what's coming, and is probably not dead keen to go have it happen. Luke offers editorial comment here - he says Jesus was 'resolute' when he set out for Jerusalem. Important.

vs 52

He had to travel through Samaritan territory to get to Jerusalem. Well, he probably didn't have to, but he was going to.

vs 53

Remember, Samaritans worship at a mountain, not Jerusalem, so it is not a happy place for them.

vs 54

Now remember, the Samaritans were an enemy of Israel, and they were heretics, so James and John are not just asking God to kill a bunch of innocents here. And they are actively preventing Jesus from doing his ministry. And also, as some manuscripts say, they may have thought they could replicate Elijah's miracle (perhaps to show their faith in God?).

vs 55

No words recorded, just a rebuke. *Smack* Quiet, peon!

vs 56

Much simpler solution, that doesn't require fire from heaven. Again, see the pattern of "If you're not welcome, just go somewhere else".

vs 57

Now as he approaches Jerusalem, we get another Luke-type bunch of discourses to fill in the journey time. The first guy pledges he will follow Christ.

vs 58

My reading of this reply is that Jesus is saying it so that the guy realises what he's in for. There's no comfy house they're walking towards. The Messiah is poor. Following hm means not knowing where you will spend the night. I don't know if the guy decided to keep following or not.

vs 59

The second guy also would follow Jesus (he's approached first though), but now's not a good time for him. Can Jesus come back in a few weeks, once he's taken care of business?

Let me point out that burying your father isn't a bad thing. Neither's being a fisherman, but Peter, James and John didn't ask if they could retire first before they go follow Jesus.

vs 60

Jesus is unrelenting. Don't go and do that perfectly reasonable thing you were going to do. Anyone can do that. While you're doing that, who's preaching the gospel? You think anyone can do that? Do you see non-Christians out there getting people ready for the Kingdom of God?

vs 61

This guy just wants to say goodbye to his family. Which at first sounds reasonable. But wait, why is he leaving them behind? Can't they come too? Perhaps they need to look after the house, and the fields. In which case, it sounds like he's got some other things on his mind too.

vs 62

This is bloody challenging. I have thought a few times about how non-Christians get all the breaks, how immoral people have it easy. Well, firstly, it's bollocks. But that's not the point being made here. The point here is that if you are thinking of jumping the fence and joining the other team, then perhaps following Jesus isn't for you. Ouch.