For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
A statement that almost seems redundant - why would the "Son of man", Jesus the Christ, the Lord and Savior, wish to destroy the very beings that He was sent to die for and save?
Yet, we also read of what Jesus said about not bringing peace but the sword (c.f. Mat 10:34 -).
But here, we are reading about the 2 hot headed impetuous brothers (also nickenamed sons of thunder! Mar 3:17) who wanted to destroy people who rejected them! This is not the same as Jesus teaching the inevitability of bringing division where the sword of truth cuts a line. And it is precisely of this divide that Jesus desires man to be saved and not perish (1Ti 2:4). Yes, Jesus will finally judge (Jhn 12:48; 2Ti 4:1), but this is not the time. And such is also our attitude - that we too are commanded to bring the dividing Word, as IS, the whole counsel therewith, no more no less, to anyone and everyone. Present God's case, let our prospects know their situation and what God would like to have them do. If we are rejected, take no offense, leave no prejudice, pronounce no judgment, but move on yet keep the door open, lest there be a change in mind.
As we know it is finally up to Jesus to judge and decide, when He comes again. And in the meantime, we would do well to simply carry out the mission of Jesus - to seek and save the lost (Luk 19:10)
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