With all of the divisiveness in society these days, it seems like the last thing we need is a gospel txt that seemingly encourage more division.
On the face of it Jesus calls for or predict that very thing yet, as we dive into this txt, there are certainly other interpretation available situated inside the entire there is ample evidence to suggest that Jesus is setting the stage for the eventual outcome of his ministry and what means for those who follow him.
This particular section can be looked at as having three different parts.
The first is a quick summary of His ministry and its eventual end; A fire of cleansing judgment that spread the good new and the the baptism of His death in order to conquer death. Following this is a discussion of the effects the gospel might have on anyone who follow Him, and finally, a warning from Jesus about our willingness to hear and see only what we want to.
Nourishing fire of good news
1. In the first part Luke 12: 49-50, we hear this language of fire and think judgment, and that may be what Christ want us to think... For now but, in reality, the fire of judgment is perhaps about our own (in) ability to save ourselves. The cleansing fire reveals that we need God. Fire was meant to destroy the reigning religion and religiousity that people used was a way of "quaranteeing" their salvation, yet, which ironically actually distancing people from could do the same be said for our own religion today? The Lord Jesus fire will burn down our human need for security and by extension those institutions that provide human security instead of security in God. The fire is followed by the talk of baptism, which has promise inherent within it. Baptism is not meant to be simply an easy, joyous occasion. On the one hand, baptism is promise for us, on the other hand, for Jesus, baptism leads to death on the cross so that we might have life. This death turns our baptism into joy and celebration for many, baptism is the entry into life of the church. Part of life as God's chosen is vocation God's calling to us. This means that Christ baptism, and His ministry and death on the cross, prefigures our own baptism and provides a bridge to the next section about division. Our calling, varied and numerous, do not end the day we are baptized. What ends in baptism is the conquences, for our failure to live out those vocation. So, while joy is a fundamental emotion for baptism, it is joy because of the grace that we have been given. Not because we will never ecperience the pain again.
We live in a broken, divided world
2. In the second part, verses 51-53 Jesus lets those gatheted know the following him will not be easy. Particularly because the gospel will not always bring peace. Families were being torn apart when the gospel spread because it changed everything. Given our contexts, this may not always happen, but there certainly could be some disagreement or strife in families as the nature of the call is worked out and understood. Whether its better to attend church, go to seminary, engage in social justice issues. etc.
The gospel's effect can creat division. There is no doubt that many churches have experienced division at sometimes in their histories the problem may not lie in the division itself. But in Now situation, how we respond to the division that today present happening in our lives.
One possibility may be to see that God is at work in all realities, and that division is not the problem, perhaps it is in our own naive expectation that we have more truth than others. Instead, could God be at work on both sides of an issue? (Exodus 20: 5-6), but i like (verse 17). There gave been calls within the christian church to become on church so that all might believe. Jesus talk about division may point to a broken reality for Christianity no matter how hard we work toward unity. Perhaps this is Jesus point: that human' togetherness is not what the gospel is about. Rather, the gospel is preached into the life of an individual person will do its work, and we ask left to trust that it is God at work, and resist our attempts to control the outcome.
You're the hypocrite, not me!
Our need for control may be the point of the final part of this selection, (verse 54-56), where Jesus addresses our inability to realized what's really happening. Why do we remain blind to all that is happening around us concerning Christ and God? The accusation of hypocrites is an interesting subject. One here, since Jesus is talking about those who can read signs but can't figure out the present time, "Now" this isn't exactly hypocrisy, but sound more like bad vision. The hypocrite label might lake sense if the hypoctites believe that Jesus bring grace, yet who continues to work under the law to achieve their own rightrousness. Or, we might be hypocrite when we believe that we have a monopoly of truth, about oursrlves and our world. The hypocrite think they have everythng figured out, but keeps using human actions to quarantee God's presence and remain in control.
This accusation of hypocrisy is an important one to consider seriously as we live out life in the church. Do we allow ourselves to hear God's call again and again, or do we rest comfortably in our perfect church attendance or other human work? Another why to put this is why do we insist or pretending to ignore the injustices (racial and otherwise) around us? Most likely the answer is that we don't want to see what's really happening or our role in the injustices of the world. There is clearly an opportunity to talk about the "Elephant in the room" for many contexts simply naming issue might be gospel for many, and maybe that kairotic event that changes everything. It may lead to division, but, we gave to trust that God is at work in all situations, and remember that God has claimed is in our baptism, not because we're been perfect believers.
Whenever Scripture takes us to the future, it does so to give us a better view of the present and how we ought to live in light of what we know. Notice, for instance, Peter's fiery portrait of the judgment of the world.
The present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.. The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.(2Pet.3:7,10)
Yet he refuses to rest his pen until he draws the implications for our lives today: since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness..
Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless. (vv. 11,14; see also 1Thess.4:13-5:11). Viewing the future through God's prophetic telescope is supposed to change the way we look at the present. It is designed to rearrange our, the present times, our priorities and shape our values today.
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