We live in an outrage culture.
Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or show up at your next extended family dinner—it doesn’t take long to feel the heat. Politics divide, past wounds fester, and one harsh comment can light a firestorm that rages for days.
And if we’re honest, we’ve all been there.
Someone crosses a line. Dismisses you. Hurts someone you love.
You feel it rise—anger. Justified, red-hot, righteous (or so it seems). You want to say it, post it, or shut them out for good.
But then we look at Jesus—and He shows a better way.
A Moment of Rejection
In Luke 9, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem—His final journey before the cross. He sends messengers ahead to a Samaritan village, but the people there shut the door in His face.
“But the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.”
—Luke 9:53
This wasn’t just personal—it was historical.
Jews and Samaritans had a long, ugly feud rooted in centuries of political wars, religious differences, and ethnic prejudice. The tension ran deep. So when Jesus is rejected, it touches every nerve.
The disciples James and John—nicknamed “Sons of Thunder”—don’t hesitate.
“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
—Luke 9:54
That escalated quickly.
But honestly? It sounds a lot like us.
In a culture where everyone’s quick to cancel, call out, or clap back, fire feels like a solution.
When we’re rejected or insulted, fire is the instinct.
Burn the bridge. Burn the person. Burn the whole village.
But Jesus does something we all need to see: He Rebukes the Firestarters
“But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.”
—Luke 9:55–56
He doesn’t clap back. He doesn’t call fire.
He doesn’t even argue.
He rebukes His own disciples—not the people who rejected Him.
Why?
Because anger that feels justified often causes more damage than healing.
Because fire might win the argument, but it rarely wins a heart.
James and John weren’t just reacting to the Samaritans—they were reacting from their own story. Their temperament. Their assumptions about Jesus’ mission. Their own pride.
And if we’re not careful, we’ll do the same.
We’ll call for fire in Jesus’ name, without realizing He’s already walked away.
Anger Isn’t Always Righteous
Let’s be clear: some things should make us angry—abuse, injustice, evil.
But many times, our anger isn’t rooted in righteousness—it’s rooted in pride, fear, or pain. And left unchecked, it burns.
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
—Proverbs 29:11
When you're tempted to lash out—pause.
Ask: What would mercy look like here?
Mercy doesn't mean you agree.
It doesn't mean you stay silent.
It means you speak and act from love, not fire.
Healing, Not Harming
This isn’t the only time Jesus shuts down a violent reaction. Fast forward to the Garden of Gethsemane. The moment of His betrayal. One of His followers (John tells us it was Peter) draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant.
And again—Jesus stops him. “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”—Luke 22:51
Even in His arrest, surrounded by enemies, Jesus chooses healing over harm.
He didn’t just preach mercy—He lived it.
He healed the ones who came to hurt Him.
He prayed for the ones who nailed Him to a cross.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”—Luke 23:34
This is the heart of our Savior.
And it’s the path He calls us to walk.
From Outrage to Peace
Peacemaking isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control.
It takes more courage to forgive than to fire back.
It takes more faith to heal a wound than to win an argument.
So, what about you?
Who has rejected you?
Who hurt someone you love?
Where are you tempted to respond with fire?
Before you light the match—remember the mercy of Jesus.
Remember the moment He turned and walked away from destruction and chose peace.
Let Him rebuke your inner firestarter. Let Him remind you that He came not to destroy, but to save.
And let Him teach you what mercy really looks like.
Your Turn:
Is there someone you need to stop fighting and start praying for?
Is there a wound that’s asking for healing, not revenge?
Is there a fire you need to put out, so peace can begin?
Jesus shows us how.
Heal, don’t harm.
Pray, don’t punish.
Choose mercy over outrage.
Because that’s the way of the cross—and the way to life.
Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or show up at your next extended family dinner—it doesn’t take long to feel the heat. Politics divide, past wounds fester, and one harsh comment can light a firestorm that rages for days.
And if we’re honest, we’ve all been there.
Someone crosses a line. Dismisses you. Hurts someone you love.
You feel it rise—anger. Justified, red-hot, righteous (or so it seems). You want to say it, post it, or shut them out for good.
But then we look at Jesus—and He shows a better way.
A Moment of Rejection
In Luke 9, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem—His final journey before the cross. He sends messengers ahead to a Samaritan village, but the people there shut the door in His face.
“But the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.”
—Luke 9:53
This wasn’t just personal—it was historical.
Jews and Samaritans had a long, ugly feud rooted in centuries of political wars, religious differences, and ethnic prejudice. The tension ran deep. So when Jesus is rejected, it touches every nerve.
The disciples James and John—nicknamed “Sons of Thunder”—don’t hesitate.
“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
—Luke 9:54
That escalated quickly.
But honestly? It sounds a lot like us.
In a culture where everyone’s quick to cancel, call out, or clap back, fire feels like a solution.
When we’re rejected or insulted, fire is the instinct.
Burn the bridge. Burn the person. Burn the whole village.
But Jesus does something we all need to see: He Rebukes the Firestarters
“But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.”
—Luke 9:55–56
He doesn’t clap back. He doesn’t call fire.
He doesn’t even argue.
He rebukes His own disciples—not the people who rejected Him.
Why?
Because anger that feels justified often causes more damage than healing.
Because fire might win the argument, but it rarely wins a heart.
James and John weren’t just reacting to the Samaritans—they were reacting from their own story. Their temperament. Their assumptions about Jesus’ mission. Their own pride.
And if we’re not careful, we’ll do the same.
We’ll call for fire in Jesus’ name, without realizing He’s already walked away.
Anger Isn’t Always Righteous
Let’s be clear: some things should make us angry—abuse, injustice, evil.
But many times, our anger isn’t rooted in righteousness—it’s rooted in pride, fear, or pain. And left unchecked, it burns.
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
—Proverbs 29:11
When you're tempted to lash out—pause.
Ask: What would mercy look like here?
Mercy doesn't mean you agree.
It doesn't mean you stay silent.
It means you speak and act from love, not fire.
Healing, Not Harming
This isn’t the only time Jesus shuts down a violent reaction. Fast forward to the Garden of Gethsemane. The moment of His betrayal. One of His followers (John tells us it was Peter) draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant.
And again—Jesus stops him. “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”—Luke 22:51
Even in His arrest, surrounded by enemies, Jesus chooses healing over harm.
He didn’t just preach mercy—He lived it.
He healed the ones who came to hurt Him.
He prayed for the ones who nailed Him to a cross.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”—Luke 23:34
This is the heart of our Savior.
And it’s the path He calls us to walk.
From Outrage to Peace
Peacemaking isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control.
It takes more courage to forgive than to fire back.
It takes more faith to heal a wound than to win an argument.
So, what about you?
Who has rejected you?
Who hurt someone you love?
Where are you tempted to respond with fire?
Before you light the match—remember the mercy of Jesus.
Remember the moment He turned and walked away from destruction and chose peace.
Let Him rebuke your inner firestarter. Let Him remind you that He came not to destroy, but to save.
And let Him teach you what mercy really looks like.
Your Turn:
Is there someone you need to stop fighting and start praying for?
Is there a wound that’s asking for healing, not revenge?
Is there a fire you need to put out, so peace can begin?
Jesus shows us how.
Heal, don’t harm.
Pray, don’t punish.
Choose mercy over outrage.
Because that’s the way of the cross—and the way to life.
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