A report was brought back that the people
who saw them coming had refuse them their
hospitality.

Why had the Samaritians who had been so
friendly before now so rude? For one thing
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem where
the temple, that they despised, was located.

They believed the mountains around them
was where men ought to worship. (John 4:20)
and if that had been where they were going
they may have glady given His disciples their
hospitality.

The time came for Jesus to make His final trip
to Jerusalem. He had sent the seventy to pre-
pare the way in the towns and villages that He
would go through.

He though about the time He was received by
the Samaritans earlier (John 4). But now they
did not receive Him .

Towards evening He sent messengers into one
of the villiages to make arrangements for His
disciples to stay overnight.

"And it came to pass, when the time was come
that he should be received up, he stedfastly set
his face to go to Jerusalem,

And sent messengers before his face: and they
went, and entered into a village of the Samari-
tans, to make ready for him.

And they did not receive him, because his face
was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw
this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we com-
mand fire to come down from heaven, and
consume them, even as Elias did?

But he turned,
and rebuked
them, and said,
Ye know not
what manner
of spirit ye are
of.

For the Son of
man is not
come to destroy
men's lives,
but to save them. And they went
to another village" Luke 9:51-56

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever."

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Certainly Jesus spoke out against sectarianism.

The fact that the man was having success in
casting out devils showed that the anointing
of God was upon him.

Jesus also said that
"there is no man which shall do a miracle in
my name, that can lightly speak evil of me"
Mark 9:39

The motive behind sectarianism is often selfish-
ness. The religious establishment comes to be
considered a kind of corporation which hands out
franchises to protect the membership from com-
petition.

That there may be thousands of souls perishing
without Jesus seems not to have occurred to
them while they engage in selfish protection of
their interests. It is a great evil in the Church.

The all-knowing Lord, knew that barriers
would arise and divide the people. He used
this incident to warn againt sectarianism.

He therefore revoked the command of
James and John saying, "Forbid him not:
for he that is not against us is for us"
Luke 9:50

The spirit that James and John had, has never
really left the Church. There are those who
always look with displeasure on any who seek
to minister without their sanction.

The Roman church presumed that any sacra-
ment performed by any other than a priest
was null and void. Marriage performed by
any other than they is invalid and children by
that marriage is illegitimate.

Protestant churches, not as extreme, but some
refer to theirs as the true church and some go
so far as to question the salvation of members
of other churches.

John and James had met an unknown worker
who was doing the same work they had, that is
casting out devils in Jesus' Name. This had
immediately raised their suspicions.

They asked the man if he had the proper
documents. If not, he must stop his ministry
until he got them. They felt they were the
leaders of the party. Any outsider who might
work in the ministry should get authorization
from them first.

They were ready to issue licenses to those who
properly acknowledged their authority.

"But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no
man which shall do a miracle in my name, that
can lightly speak evil of me" Mark 9:39

The words 'in my name' may have called to
John's mind a time that had occurred, when
he and James were on a preaching tour. John
desired to change the subject as to who was
the greatest, and also to show Jesus that even
if they deserved condemnation they were busy
promoting His interests.

Peter had nothing to say, for once, and neither
did the others. Shame silenced them. He sat
down and showed them that he who would be
first should be the servant of all. To show
His lesson on humility He call a little child
over.

The motive that drove the disciples was
wrong. In the sight of the world that which
makes a man great is his superiority over
others. The concept of greatness in the king-
dom of God is different. Greatness is deter-
mined by a willingness to serve others, even
those who are the weakest and the most
despised.

Jesus finished He admonition by saying,
"Whosoever shall receive one of such
children in my name, receiveth me."