Men, Women, and Fire from Heaven

This just might be the funniest passage in the Bible. I can't remember having read or heard it until just recently, and it made me laugh right out loud.

Luke 9: 51 - 56 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

Zowie, James and John were vengeful little weasels! I don't know what's funnier: them thinking they could actually call fire from Heaven or that they were all ready to destroy the village they set out to save. My first thought was that they were just like 4th graders. I was also reminded of watching a little boy build a structure out of Legos or something. He'll be all exact, get it just right, then shazaam! he destroys it in one fell swoop. He enjoys it so much that destruction itself might be the purpose of construction.

What makes it interesting is the contrast between boys and girls. If the kid has a sister, she'll be eyeing the establishment as a new home for Miss Bunny, planning where to put the dish set and how many of Miss Bunny's friends will fit inside.

This is not to say females are nicer than males. Had Jesus' disciples been women I'll bet they would've asked Him if they could inflict the Samaritans with boils, or send moths to eat their clothing. But they wouldn't have wanted to destroy the town kit and kaboodle. Women know vengeance. It's called, "Make 'em suffer!"

I wonder why men want to destroy things. Is it just nature? Do all of them have this penchant? Our culture discourages destructive tendencies, but maybe deep down every guy would like to get his hands on a missile or two, a wrecking ball or at least a good, solid sledgehammer.