The wrath of God

Scripture: Luke 9:54-56 And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command 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.


Observation: The disciples had assumed that Jesus would pour out his wrath on those who dishonored him. Their assumption was based on what God did in the past. He did destroy towns and people groups in the past. Why the change? Why was the ministry of Jesus different than the ministry prior to Jesus?

Application: Many people today make the same assumption that the disciples did. People assume that God is out to get somebody. People attribute natural disasters to the wrath of God. People go so far as the attribute the death of children to God's actions, and so on. Jesus clearly states that he came to save lives, not to take them. John 10:10 tells us that it is Satan who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and that Jesus is come that we have life. The difference between the God of the old testament and the God of the new testament is the work of Christ at the cross. He took the wrath of God for us, and we are not subject to it any more. He gave his life for ours. The ministry of Jesus exemplified this fact.

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, thank you for what you did for us at the cross. Thank you for giving your life so that we can have an abundant life in you. Thank you for taking our punishment upon yourselves. Thank you that you became forgiveness for our sins. We accept you, and devote our lives to serving you with the honor you deserve.