“But He turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.” Luke 9:55-56 HCSB

Jesus rebuked James and John for wanting to destroy a city because they rejected Him. He turned to them. I wonder if they saw the passion and fire in Jesus that they wanted to see fall from heaven. A passion and love for all mankind. 

Jesus knew that the leadership of that city would not welcome Him. but He knew that there would be people who would hear His message proclaimed by people like Peter, Philip, and Paul and repent and follow him later. Jesus knew there may have been 10, 20, or 50  godly people in that city. But even if there was only one Jesus was not going to destroy a whole city because of the actions of the leadership.

“What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of all the earth do what is just? ” 

The Lord said, “If I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 

Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord — even though I am dust and ashes — suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five? ” 

He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.” 

Then he spoke to Him again, “Suppose 40 are found there? ” 

He answered, “I will not do it on account of 40.” 

Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there? ” 

He answered, “I will not do it if I find 30 there.” 

Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there? ” 

He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of 20.” 

Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose 10 are found there? ” 

He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of 10.” 

When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”

Genesis 18:24-33 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/gen.18.24-33.hcsb

Jesus' zeal did not condemn people but rather it was to save people. Instead of doing something against this city Jesus was forgiving them and moving on to the next town where He would be welcomed. 

Jesus’ loving zeal is a forgiving zeal for us. He paid the ultimate price in death separation from God so that we may have the freedom to be with God. No matter what we have done God is waiting to have us back. No matter what the devil and this world accuse us of doing God will forgive it, but only if we repent and turn from it. God will not forgive us if we will not confess our sins. God does not hold the sins we are unaware of against us, but what He has told us is a sin He will hold that against us until we repent. The longer it takes us to repent the more comfortable we become in our sins. The more comfortable we become the more we want to stay there. The longer we stay there the closer we get toward the devil and his punishment, hell. 

“He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!”

Matthew 25:33-34, 41 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.25.33-34,41.hcsb

We have a kingdom prepared for us. The devil has an eternal fire prepared for him and his angels. We don’t have to go there, be we can if we chose to.

Stop what we are doing today and repent. Move and press against the crowd toward the loving God who wants the best for us.