Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost August 18, 2013 JESUS A REVOLUTIONARY? (LUKE 12:49-53) 94 " I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 05 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 05 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 05 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 05 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-inlaw against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Introduction: This is an unusual Gospel reading. Jesus says that He has come to bring fire and even division. What is even more shocking is His claim that He has not come to bring peace! This really seems to fly against so much of what He has asserted, particularly in such verses as the following: The angels declared this about the birth of Jesus the promised Messiah, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." Luke 2:14 Jesus said to a sinful woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50 Jesus spoke these words to a little girl whom He had just healed, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." Luke 8:48 Peter preached this, "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." Acts 10:36 Jesus gave this promise to His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Even in His post-resurrected state Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 Is Jesus truly the bringer of peace, or is He some kind of radical revolutionary? I. Purpose #1 Fire (12:49) 12:49 The phrase I have come refers to a statement of purpose for Jesus ministry/mission. Fire has been mentioned in 3:16 in reference to Jesus baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Also, fire was used in reference to the disciples request of fire from heaven to destroy the hostile Samaritans (9:54). Jesus rebuked them sharply for this attitude of vengeance! QUESTION: How could Jesus claim to bring fire on the earth in 12:49, when He rebuked His disciples for wanting to call down fire from heaven in 9:54-55? ANSWER: A purely destructive emphasis is not in view here as it was with the disciples request in 9:54. Jesus focuses on division in that even close family members will be divided regarding their view of Him as God s chosen one. His mission was not one of complacent peace (12:51), but one that demanded a committed decision to follow Him (12:51-53). The positive function of the fire of judgment is that it brings to the forefront the urgency to follow Him. (To assign another meaning than judgment, like purification, is reading a foreign meaning into the text. The usage of fire elsewhere in Luke and the immediate context support the concept of judgment.) Following Jesus as Lord and Savior is not some haphazard, easy-come-easy-go decision. Our Lord does not want us to adopt an indifferent whatever-happens-happens attitude. We are to never take His love and truth for granted. On the contrary, knowing and following Him is the most crucial aspect of our entire lives. II. Plan #1 Baptism of Judgment (12:50) 12:50 Baptism can be used as a symbol of overwhelming disaster, trouble, or danger (see Mark 10:38-39). This is a vivid image of Jesus impending crucifixion in Jerusalem. In a sense, Jesus will undergo divine judgment for this sin of humanity. Distressed (sunechō) is an intense word that is also translated as afflicted, suffered, overcame, hemmed in, held [in custody], hard-pressed, and compelled.
This verb indicates the emotional turmoil that Jesus is feeling, as He anticipates His mission being completed on the cross. God s judgment on our sin, which every human being so justly deserves, necessitated Christ s death on the cross as the only way of forgiveness. In a real sense, Jesus took our sins upon Himself; in fact, He suffered the curse of divine judgment for us, as these verses indicate: The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-- whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Acts 5:30-31 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13 How ironic that He who came to announce the fire of divine judgment took that judgment upon Himself instead of those who deserved a sentence of eternal judgment before God. In other words, Jesus is fully accepted with His Father by undergoing rejection from others and bearing divine punishment. What amazing grace! What a revolutionary kind of love! III. Purpose #2 Division (12:51) 12:51 Peace (eirēnē in Greek; shalom in Hebrew) has been earlier mentioned in 1:79; 2:14, 29; 7:50; 8:48; 10:5-6. In each case it is given to those who have favorably responded. This verse makes clear that a cheap and superficial kind of peace is just that cheap and superficial. Without Christ true, everlasting peace is impossible, as this saying makes clear: Know Jesus, know peace; no Jesus, no peace. The peace that Jesus offers is universal, but unfortunately it is not universally accepted. Our Lord makes this decisive division of humanity those who put their trust in Him and those who do not. Divine peace is experienced only by those who have surrendered themselves to God s love expressed in His Son. IV. Plan #2 Disruption of Families (12:52-53) 12:49 Unfortunately, not everyone accepts the precious sacrifice of the Lord of Life on the cross. This opposition and division may even hit core relationships as five in one family being divided against each other. This affects such key relationships as father son, mother daughter, mother-in-law daughter-in-law. Sadly, mom is right in the middle of
things, since she is mentioned twice, first as mother and secondly as mother-in-law (which then makes five ). The point is that Jesus is giving us a new family, with greater allegiance to spiritual brothers and sisters than even flesh and blood relatives. Our relationship is worth standing up for, even dying for. The only eternal glue that can truly hold a family together is Jesus; not even Mom can do that! Some professing believers priorities are so fouled up that they that they are being divided from others for the wrong reasons, as this story so tragically illustrates: A small town in Tennessee had a place of worship with a sign in front that read: LEFT FOOT BAPTIST CHURCH. A student had passed by it many times, chuckled to himself, and wondered about the meaning of the name of the church. Finally, one day, waiting for his bus, the student asked somebody in the town about the significance of the rather unusual name for the church. It seems that a number of years ago, there had been a split in the local congregation, which practiced foot-washing. An argument broke out over which foot should be washed first. And the group insisting on the left foot taking precedence finally withdrew and split off to organize its own church and named its congregation accordingly! LEFT FOOT BAPTIST CHURCH. A division like that might be funny if it weren t so tragic. [Taken from 1001 More Humorous Illustrations, p. 108] Conclusion: Was Jesus a revolutionary? Most definitely! He came to change people s lives and did the most radical thing that anyone could ever do willfully give His life even for those who were so diametrically opposed to Him. The David Crowder Band, a contemporary Christian music group, has a catchy song entitled Revolutionary Love. Notice these relevant lyrics: It s so amazing Your unchanging love Simply amazing Never changing love Love, love, revolutionary love. You re a revolution I want to be a revolutionary Love, love, love, revolutionary love. An example of revolutionary love is found in this remarkable testimony of faith: It was five days before Christmas when a stranger approached ten-year-old Christopher Carrier, claiming to be a friend of his father. "I want to buy him a gift, and I need your help," said the stranger. Eager to do something good for his dad, Chris climbed aboard a motor home parked up the street.
The driver took Chris to a remote field, claiming to be lost, and asked Chris to look at a map. Suddenly Chris felt a sharp pain in his back. The stranger had stabbed him with an ice pick. The man drove the wounded boy down a dirt road, shot him in the left temple, and left him for dead in the alligator-infested Florida Everglades. Chris lay unconscious for six days until a driver found him. Chris miraculously survived his injuries, though he was blind in his left eye. Because he was unable to identify his attacker, police could not make an arrest. For a long time young Chris remained frightened, despite police protection. Finally at an invitation given after a church hayride, Chris trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He recalls, "I was overwhelmed with emotion... because I knew I had never really accepted and personally met the Savior." This turning point in Chris's life came three years after the attack. At age 15 Chris shared his story for the first time. He eventually decided to pursue full-time ministry, helping others find the peace he had discovered in Christ. In 1996 a detective told Chris over the phone that a man had confessed to the crime that had cost him his left eye. The man's name was David McAllister. Chris made plans to visit the feeble and now blind man, living in a nursing home. The strong young man Chris remembered was now a broken, humbled 77-year-old. Chris learned from the detective some of the background of what had happened years ago. McAllister had been hired by Chris's father to work as a nurse for an ailing uncle. Chris's dad had caught McAllister drinking on the job and had fired him. The senseless attack on Chris had been motivated by revenge. As Chris now talked to the old man, at first McAllister denied knowing anything about the kidnapping. As Chris revealed more about himself, the old man softened and eventually apologized. Chris said, "I told him, 'What you meant for evil, God has turned into a wonderful blessing.'" Chris told his attacker how God had allowed his wounds to become open doors to share the good news of Christ. Chris went home and told his wife and kids about meeting the man who had tried to kill him. The entire family began almost daily visits to McAllister's nursing home. During one Sunday afternoon visit, Chris popped the most important question he had yet asked McAllister: "Do you want to know the Lord?" McAllister said yes. Both men basked in forgiveness as McAllister gave his heart to Christ. A few days later McAllister died peacefully in his sleep. Carrier says it is not a story of regret, but of redemption. "I saw the Lord give that man back his life, and so much more," Chris said. "I can't wait to see him again someday in heaven." [Taken from Perfect Illustrations, pp. 115-116] Revolutionized by the love of God and the cross of His Son, Pastor Steve Waterman