Jesus Came To Save

"The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (1)

"When the time had come for Him (Jesus) to be received up, - He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.' And they went to another village." (2)

The time had come for Christ's last journey to Jerusalem. "And He 'sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him.' But the people refused to receive Him, because He was on His way to Jerusalem. This they interpreted as meaning that Christ showed a preference for the Jews, whom they hated with intense bitterness... James and John were greatly annoyed at the insult shown to their Lord. They were filled with indignation because He had been so rudely treated by the Samaritans whom He was honoring by His presence... This manifest dishonor on the part of the Samaritans, should not, they thought, be passed over without marked punishment.

"Coming to Christ, they reported to Him the words of the people, telling Him that they had even refused to give Him a night's lodging. They thought that a grievous wrong had been done Him, and--- they said, 'do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' They were surprised to see that Jesus was pained by their words, and still more surprised as His rebuke fell upon their ears... And He went to another village.

"It is no part of Christ's mission to compel men to receive Him. It is Satan, and men actuated by his spirit, that seek to compel the conscience. Under a pretense of zeal for righteousness, men who are confederate with evil angels bring suffering upon their fellow men, in order to convert them to their ideas of religion; but Christ is ever showing mercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love... He desires only voluntary service, the willing surrender of the heart under the constrain of love." (3)

1. Luke 9:56.
2. Luke 9:51-56
3. Desire of Ages, pp., 486, 487.