Scripture
49“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. Luke 12:49-52
Observation
It seems like the last thing we need in these incredibly divisive times are direct quotes from Jesus that seem to be calling for more division. Yet, His teaching on where the dividing line is might be exactly what we need right now. The prevailing idea at the time of His teaching among the Jews was that when the Messiah came he would establish political rule by overthrowing all who opposed him and, thus, bring peace on earth. If bringing a riot to the capital of Rome was the path for peace Jesus would have led the way. This was not the way to salvation. The context of this teaching was Jesus preparing His followers for the coming judgement and His own sacrifice for all mankind. Jesus the Messiah would indeed bring eternal peace to all who repented quickly and believed but it would not be through an earthy kingdom but a spiritual one. People on both sides, Jews and Romans would be divided against Jesus because of this. So, His disciples could expect the same rejection He was about to face because the Real Gospel demands a real response. There is no neutral ground. The point of the division Jesus promises is over which kingdom a person chooses: the kingdoms of this world or the Kingdom of our God? Our allegiance must be first and foremost to Jesus even if it means division in our earthly relationships. Jesus is drawing a line in the sand and asking us to choose where we stand.
Application
I read these words in our Life Journal plan this morning and I was very disturbed. It seemed to be a contradiction to the very thing we had just celebrated at Christmas. Ironically, my music was on shuffle and began to play some Christmas music. It was peaceful and melodic and immediately made me wish to be back in December. Remember, a few weeks ago when we thought things couldn’t get crazier than 2020? That was before everything went to the next level of nuts a week ago today on January 6th. The world saw people bum rushing the Nations Capitol waving Trump flags, a Confederate flag and yes, sadly, Christian flags. Since that day it seems the peace we felt at Christmas was on another planet. But, what about this planet where we live? Are we destined for a perpetual battle with no peace to be found? When Jesus says, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!", isn’t He contradicting what the angels announced at His birth? Actually, no. Just before the angels left the shepherds they praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” (Lk. 2:14). We know that the only way to receive God’s pleasure is to choose God’s son, repent for our sins and allow His government in highest Heaven to reign over every area of our lives. In other words, the peace promised at the arrival of the Messiah is not unconditional. It wasn’t just a blanket promise of Nirvana now that He had come. Peace is not a place it’s a person. It’s THE Person of Jesus Christ to whom we pledge our lives. Peace won’t be found in a political party otherwise Jesus would have done that while He walked this earth. Peace on earth is not an emotion, but an expression of those who live under the rule of One- Jesus Himself. Jesus was making it clear that we would be peacemakers not peacekeepers. That we might be unified with others on every other subject but that when it came to Jesus there was only One Way, One Truth, and One Life (Jn. 14:6). If someone sees a “One Way” sign on the road and chooses to go the wrong way there will be an obvious division between that driver and the law giver who placed the sign there. This division will lead to a collision with the cars and drivers who refuse to abide by the direction given by the sign. Jesus isn’t telling us to look for a collision, but to expect it. Jesus chose disciples that were all over the political spectrum. Matthew worked for the Roman government. Simon the Zealot wanted to burn it down. Jesus called both to be united under His government, His rule. This meant they would be divided from their other loyalties. Now, we see that division from lesser loyalties is a good thing. So that, if there is anything offensive in the expression of our faith it’s simply that our lives are a sign firmly planted in Christ and pointing to One Way in Jesus. There is a peace when you know you are driving the right way. When these disciples died for their faith it would not be an issue of a vote but an issue of the heart. Their lives demanded a response from those around them. Their allegiance was to One who’s kingdom was not of this world and yet changed the world one person at a time not through riots but though love.
Prayer
Lord, the division You talk about here IS political. Who’s government reigns over my heart? We have become divided as The Church because we have allowed other loyalties to crowd out our loyalty and allegiance to You. Whether Matthew‘s or Simon’s please forgive your disciples for where our nationalism has superseded our surrender to Your rule and reign. Forgive us for where our loyalties to others have divided us from You and have weakened our witness to a world desperately looking for a lasting peace. Let my only offense to others be the offense of the Gospel. Let me be that “One Way” sign firmly planted in the lives of others pointing not to a political party, not to a person or personality, not to my pet theologies, but to You and You alone. I know this means I will be rejected both by Christians and Non-Christians alike, but this is what You told me would happen in today’s reading. There’s a real peace in knowing that my ONE job in this life it to point to You no matter what.
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