The Son of Man has not come to destroy lives
1. Before setting out on the journey to Jerusalem, Peter allocated tasks among his fellow disciples.
2. Following the role Judas had played in the feeding of the five thousand, he was put in charge of the common purse.
3. It became his responsibility to see that Jesus, the rest of the disciples and the women followers had something to eat, clothes to wear and shelter for the night.
4. It would be a long and arduous journey from Mount Hermon to Jerusalem, taking several days. Despite living simply, Judas knew that they would still need considerable assistance along the way if they were to arrive in the Holy City properly prepared for the Master to assume his rightful role as the expected Messiah, the Royal King of Israel.
5. Judas was also aware that during the long walk from Galilee to Jerusalem, they would pass through hazardous terrain, especially when they travelled into Samaria, for the Samaritans would never share anything with a Jew.
see
John 4:9
6. This would change if the Master was willing to impose his authority on those people who were proving to be stumbling blocks in his way.
7. Judas also had to consider the possibility of being attacked by bandits while they were on the road to Jerusalem.
8. These were desperate gangs of men who could no longer afford to pay the crippling taxes imposed on them by the Roman authorities. They had deserted their towns and villages and fled to the mountains, where they lived in caves and preyed on passing strangers, even killing them.
9. Judas feared that the Master would want to avoid any such confrontation, and take the longer, safer route, by crossing the river Jordan and entering Judea from the south.
10. However, once they set out, it quickly became clear that Jesus favoured the more direct journey, which filled Judas’ heart with hope.
11. He assumed that this decision implied that Jesus wished to gather a large army on the way, so that when he entered the Holy City he could immediately stamp his authority on any non-believers.
12. As they approached the borders of Samaria, James and his brother John were sent ahead to proclaim the coming of Jesus.
13. However, the two brothers were disappointed to discover that the inhabitants of the first village they entered showed little interest in welcoming Jesus into their midst.
14. The Samaritans had no desire to alert the Romans to Jesus’ presence, and then have their village razed to the ground for harbouring a false prophet and his followers.
15. James and John returned to Jesus and asked him to punish the Samaritans for their lack of faith. Lord, do you want fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did?
see
Luke 9:54
16. Jesus disappointed them with his response: The Son of Man has not come to destroy lives, but to save them, and so they departed for another place.
see
Luke 9:55–56
17. Judas agreed with James and John’s judgement, and became ever more fearful of what might take place when they entered Jerusalem.
18. The other disciples carried out the Master’s orders without question, and skirted the Samaritan village, thus avoiding any confrontation with its inhabitants.
19. A small band of followers came out of the village to join Jesus, but they numbered only a few.
20. That evening, while others ate and rested, Jesus stole away and with calm intensity immersed himself in prayer.
21. When Judas knelt near his Master, he heard Jesus utter the word Abba.
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22. This gave Judas renewed confidence that Jesus truly was the son of God, though he still could not understand why the Master continued to call himself the Son of Man.