Jesus Divided A World To Save It
I recently was studying the Bible and came across Luke 12:49 which reads “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!” This one line is a powerful statement from Jesus himself about his reasons for coming to Earth. As a writer I find this passage very gripping, haunting, and exciting. Out of context this could mean so many things to so many people. In context however it is a warning and a declaration. Jesus is telling his followers that he has come to disrupt the systems and norms of the world. The passage goes on to explain in verse 50-52: “I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.” First he gives a glimpse of his future describing it as a “terrible baptism of suffering” which is a beautifully poetic way of describing his coming death. Jesus also acknowledges his own struggle and hardship of carry the weight of the world on his back and his coming sacrifice. This is a moment where as a reader I sense frustration, anger, and conviction from Christ. He asks a powerful question and gives an even more powerful answer. Jesus exclaims that he did not come to bring peace to the Earth. Instead he came to in his words “divide people”. This does not sound like the Jesus that loves and is gracious does it? Is this the compassionate Lord of our faith?
Before we write Jesus off as a hypocrite and liar let’s read further. In verse 53 he references the Old Testament:
“Father will be divided against son
and son against father;
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother;
and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law”
The original text is found in Micah chapter 7 verse 6. To understand what he is saying here is important to understand the story being told in Micah. Matthew Henry writes in his commentary of Micah 7:1-7:
“The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.”
So this was a time of not only sinfulness but of great burden. Families were suffering and people in general were losing hope. Society was so corrupted that the core of families was dissolving rapidly. The prophet saw nowhere to go but to God for help. This is where Jesus saying he came to set the world on fire comes into play. More so when Jesus exclaims “I wish it were already burning, I think he is saying I wish it hadn’t come to this. Now because of his coming as savior there will be those who follow him to restoration and those who turn away. This will definitely divide friends as well as families. His new way of teaching and his new way of loving is divisive amongst the people. The things Jesus says are radical and to many so explosive that they demand him killed. Christ’s words were not ones of unity t those who opposed him, they were blasphemy. His words were like a declaration of war on the status quo. It is this kind of boldness that indeed would set the world on fire during Jesus’ life and well after. There is violence in his love that is not of flesh and blood but of spiritual consequence.
So what about the loving Christ? Well let’s look back at Micah 7:8-13
“8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,
for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case
and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light,
and I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.
They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying,
“So where is the Lord—
that God of yours?”
With my own eyes I will see their downfall;
they will be trampled like mud in the streets.
11 In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt,
and your borders will be extended.
12 People from many lands will come and honor you—
from Assyria all the way to the towns of Egypt,
from Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River,[a]
and from distant seas and mountains.
13 But the land[b] will become empty and desolate
because of the wickedness of those who live there.”
The prophet is being quite frank here about God’s displeasure with his peoples sinfulness but also about the Lords justice for his children. It is a story of consequence for disobedience followed by a restoration and forgiveness. This is in a sense the very reason Jesus came to be amongst humanity. He made no excuses for our sinfulness but also never once swayed from his mission to restore us. So again we see how he indeed came to set the world a blaze and in that there is inevitable division between those who accept it and those who oppose. Finally as we finish Micah chapter 7 we see the true character of God in verses 14-20:
“14 O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff;
lead your flock, your special possession.
Though they live alone in a thicket
on the heights of Mount Carmel,[c]
let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead
as they did long ago.
15 “Yes,” says the Lord,
“I will do mighty miracles for you,
like those I did when I rescued you
from slavery in Egypt.”
16 All the nations of the world will stand amazed
at what the Lord will do for you.
They will be embarrassed
at their feeble power.
They will cover their mouths in silent awe,
deaf to everything around them.
17 Like snakes crawling from their holes,
they will come out to meet the Lord our God.
They will fear him greatly,
trembling in terror at his presence.
18 Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.”
Here we see not only God’s righteousness and justice but his love for his people. In this I see Jesus shining through so brightly. This beautiful passage is a declaration of the promises of God that we are under. It is a story of redemption for the people of God as well as a sign of hope of things to come. The emphasis of this passage is that even though God was disappointed and rightfully so he is a loving father who forgives. Verse 18 describes the character of God and the savior that is Jesus.
Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
That is the King we serve! That is a true loving God. It is the unfailing love that sets the world a blaze. The end of the chapter tells of the forgiveness and forgetting of sins by our God. He throws the transgressions of our lives into the depths and tramples the sins of our world under his feet. Jesus coming to us was the fulfillment of this prophet’s dream. As he says “You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love, as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.” Thus showing that God has not changed and will not. Jesus was the sacrifice that finished it for all mankind yet in doing so he caused great division amongst the people of the world. His life, death and resurrection have shaken the very core of our worlds religious, political, and social structures. The fire Jesus had hoped to already see burning was henceforth ignited by a supernatural flame. Through his miracles and teaching he unleashed a fury the world had never seen. Finally upon his departure from us he again ignited a fire in the hearts of men that has birthed a kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. That fire is the Holy Spirit and it continues to guide us through our time on this earth where we will no doubt encounter enemies and trials. The world is not united now and it wasn’t in Jesus’ time. His sacrifice united the Kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit but his life, and resurrection also fractured mankind and our systems. It challenged everything that was and is known. It shakes us to our cores. Our beliefs in what is important and our ideas of success are turned upside down. This is not an act of unification but of division. The Christian is challenged by Christ to submit, surrender all, and live opposite of the world’s standards. That has indeed put a wedge between people and even families. Luckily in the Kingdom we in an eternal family and in Christ we find the ultimate reconciliation for those who have been fractured.
Amen.
