21 October 2021

49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Jesus had many leaders of the Jewish faith who were in increasing measure turning against him and opposing him. His message seemed to be contrary to theirs and failed to meet the Messianic expectation.

At Christmas, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came to earth to bring peace and goodwill. The Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Scribes were teaching that the Messiah would come as a Nationalist King and bring peace to the Jews by defeating their enemies and establishing them as a Nation under God, with a King like David on the throne.

In the text, Luke is reminding us that God had said – “my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways.”

The Prophet Micah had warned that a time would come when families would be divided against each other because of hardness of heart.

It was happening in their midst and people were confused because some believed in him and some did not, from within the same household. And the Jewish leaders were using this as a sign that Jesus was not the Son of God, not the anointed one not the Messiah. And so Jesus speaks into the situation saying “ I am bringing the fire that the prophecies foretold. That fire will burn away impurities, the problem is that you haven’t recognised the impurities and so when your self-righteousness is being burned away, you are left confused.   The fire is a clear indication that the Holy Spirit convicts and purifies. The Jewish leaders expected fire and purification for others, when we think of justice, we want it for ourselves not realising that we are really to seek justice for others and treat others with mercy and we must be humble. The Jewish leaders sought Justice and mercy for themselves and demanded others to be humble. Come Holy Spirit of fire and convict me of this sin in my own life. Even when it cuts to the core and affects what I hold most dear. Make my love for God greater than my love of my own life. Again, Jesus is asking us to think further than our own physical material lives.

Sometimes our faith will challenge us at the deepest level of our human experience. And here Jesus says, that division, that need to choose faith, to choose righteousness by faith, to follow Jesus as our primary objective, is why he came.

In effect it is a comforting verse. It reminds us that our convictions are not just taking the common path, following Jesus isn’t just going with the flow -and Jesus is aware that this results in division. And it’s okay. Hold your ground for Jesus.

This should not lead us to being argumentative or divisive, that is not Jesus’s intention. But when hardship comes, fix your eyes on Jesus. He knew he would suffer at the hands of people who disagreed with him. Here he states that he wishes that that was over and that the outcome was already being received, accepted and delighted in. Even Jesus says “I wish we could jump to the happy ending.”

So, whatever you face today, fear not for the Spirit of God is with you and will purify you and burn away the unnecessary, and the undesirable and leave you cleansed and saved.

Do not fear adversity, do not fear those who speak out against your faith. In the words of mother Theresa. We are not called to success but to faithfulness.

Seek the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and stand your ground for Jesus, humbly and mercifully. Forgiving as you are forgiven, and with your eyes fixed on things above.

The God who has called you is faithful and he will not fail you.

Let us pray.

Lord, we ask you to purify our lives with the Fire of your Holy Spirit. Where there is division let us sow love,

 but let us be unwavering in our devotion to you, now and always. Amen.