The answer is: Call down fire from heaven

Luke 9:54 - The vengeance belonged to God, it was not for them to attempt it and so Jesus rebukes them.

James and John, often called the "Sons of Thunder," were notorious for their fiery personalities. It’s almost comic if you think about it—these are the guys who wanted to pull a celestial fire-and-brimstone show just because a Samaritan village didn’t welcome them. It gives a sense of their zeal as disciples of Jesus.

The context is important too; the Jews had a long distrust—bordering on hatred—toward the Samaritans. This hostility stemmed from differences in worship practices and ancient quarrels. By asking for fire from heaven, James and John were not just showcasing their serious temperaments, but also tapping into Old Testament echoes. They likely recalled the story of Elijah calling fire from heaven against the unsavory priests (1 Kings 18:20-40). The fire symbolized divine anger and retribution, and it’s interesting to see how they wanted to play the avengers of God rather than the messengers of His love.

Yet, Jesus rebuked their desire for vengeance. Instead, He modeled compassion and grace. In a world quick to seek retribution, this calls into question our own responses when faced with rejection or hostility—we could learn something about letting go and loving instead. So much of the teaching we gain from Jesus shows that divine power is not about judgment, but transformation—over fire, mercy prevails!