Read: Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9
Marked: Luke 9:56, “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save [them.]” And they went to another village.
Religion teaches condemnation. The Pharisees and Sadducees condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Religion establishes a hierarchy and it was obvious the disciples were well versed in the religion of the day as they argued among themselves as to who was greater.
But Jesus wanted them, and us, to know the heart of God, the heart of mercy, compassion, and grace. His disciples thought the Father was an angry, judgmental and condemning God. And, today, many think so too.
The disciples forbade others to teach in the name of Jesus because they weren’t part of their group. They even wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village because they had not received Christ.
But that’s not the Spirit of God, nor the Spirit Jesus has given us. Jesus didn’t come to condemn or destroy but to build up, to save us and invite us into the Kingdom of God.
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