d country.

But to this hospitality there was a noted exception. We have noticed
the hatred of the Samaritans to the Jews. This was especially shown to
pilgrims going up to Jerusalem to attend the feasts.

Jesus was on His last journey thither. As ever, He was teaching and
healing on the way. His own heart was burdened with the thought of what
He was to endure, but He was steadfast in His purpose to reach the Holy
City, willing there to suffer and to die. Nearing the first Samaritan
village, He sent messengers before Him to prepare for Himself and His
company. Even the common hospitality was refused, and that in a most
unfriendly manner. The Master was treated as a teacher of falsehood.
Even the kind healer was not permitted to enter the village. He was a
Jew on His way to Jerusalem. In the minds of the villagers, this was
more than enough to balance all the good in Him.

James and John especially were indignant at the unkind treatment. They
felt keenly the insult to their Lord, whom they believed was on His way
to Jerusalem to establish His Kingdom, and was worthy of the most
generous hospitality and the sincerest homage. They had a fresh
remembrance of the glory in which they had seen Him on the Holy Mount in
company with Elijah. They were reminded of that prophet's experience
more than nine hundred years before. It was this: Ahaziah, a king of
Israel, was seriously injured by a fall from the balcony of his house.
He sent to inquire of the false god Baal-zebub whether he should
recover. God sent Elijah to reprove him for his idolatry and insult to
Himself. The king sent a captain with fifty men to seize the prophet,
but they were consumed by fire from heaven. Another captain and his
fifty men were also destroyed in like manner.

Such a punishment James and John would call down on the Samaritans. They
felt that it would be just. If fitting for the enemies of Elijah, how
much more for those of Jesus. They were ready to give the command which
God permitted Elijah to give, if Jesus would allow them to do likewise.
And so, being displeased, provoked, revengeful, with a fiery spirit,
they said to Him, "Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down
from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?" But Jesus "turned
and rebuked them," and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are
of."

It was contrary to the spirit of meekness and love manifest in His
declaration to them, "The Son of Man is not come to destro