Luke 12:49-53 (3)

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-If you would, please turn in your Bibles to Luke 12...

…and follow along as we...

…jump back in at Verse 49.

We’re creeping up on the end of Chapter 12...

And it seems like the closer we get to it...

…the more intense Jesus’ messages are becoming.

In the previous section (last week)...

…the theme had been...

…the impeccable and inescapable nature...

…of the coming, final judgment.

Well, in today’s text...

…Jesus similarly warns of...

An Inevitable Crisis...

An Inevitable Conflagration...

…that would be brought about...

…NOT by His Second Coming to the earth...

…but by His FIRST!

-And here again...

…His words are...

Difficult

Daunting.

They warn us to expect (as His followers)...

…the greatest of earthly pains to come...

…as we put our hands to the plow...

…and make the commitment...

…to live for Him!

-Let’s read them together...

…beginning in Verse 49.

This is the Holy and Inspired Word of God:

Luke 12:49–53 (ESV)

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

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The Jesus...

And the Christian Life...

...That’s being presented in these verses...

…are sadly foreign to the thinking...

...of much of the Evangelical world (in the West)

Many well-intended Christians...

…begin their evangelism, with phrases like:

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life...

Come to Jesus and he’ll give you a better life.

-Now, there are elements of truth...

…to both of those statements...

…(when they’re rightly parsed out).

But, the way most people mean them...

…is quite foreign to what the Bible actually teaches.

And certainly, our text this morning...

…(and its attending cross references)...

…are going to make that very clear!

-To begin with...

…look at the countercultural...

…depiction of Jesus in Verse 49:

He begins...

…with this statement of purpose and intent:

Luke 12:49 (ESV)

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth...

Now, notice the tense of those verbs.

It isn’t, “when I come” (a future coming)...

But rather:

Luke 12:49 (NASB95)

49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth...

Luke 12:49 (KJV)

49 I am come to send fire on the earth...

So, that tells us, that...

…this is a conflagration...

…that Jesus was going to ignite...

…because of his first advent.

-Now, I hope it goes without saying...

…that this is a metaphor.

That this fire that Jesus...

…has come to forcefully cast upon the earth...

…is representative of something else, right?

What is that?

Well, you might be surprised by...

…the variety of opinions about that.

They include things like:

God’s Word

The proclamation of the Gospel

The giving of the Holy Spirit

And, certainly there is a correlation...

…to all of those things.

But, I think there’s something...

…more basic and universal...

…behind its use in Verse 49...

Something that actually fits the immediate context...

…better than those options:

In short, it represents Divine Judgment.

Philip Ryken explains it like this:

The Scripture says, “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). When he is present in his holiness, God burns with a pure and powerful flame.

This fire has a twofold effect: it consumes whatever is destined for destruction, while at the same time purifying whatever God ordains to refine.

Fire always consumes or purifies, depending on the nature of what it burns. It is an instrument of judgment, revealing things for what they are.

This is what Christ came to cast on the earth: the consuming, purifying fire of God’s judgment. — Ryken

Let me show you a great example...

…of what he’s talking about:

Malachi 3:1–5 (ESV)

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple...

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.

3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver...

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment . . .

And, He goes on to say:

Malachi 4:1–3 (ESV)

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings...

And if you’ll remember...

… John the Baptist, as that coming Messenger...

…made this helpful application...

…of that same imagery:

Matthew 3:9–12 (ESV)

9 ...do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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So, this coming fiery judgment...

…was going to result in...

…a forceful separation between...

The Wheat

The Chaff.

The true sons of Abraham

Those presumptuous pseudo-sons!

And that tells us, that...

…the very event that...

...brings about the destruction of His enemies...

Will also bring about the redemption...

…of His friends!

-And I think that helps us to better understand...

…What Jesus says at the end of Verse 49:

Luke 12:49 (ESV)

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

“would” = “wish” or “desire”

Brethren, He’s wanting this conflagration to happen!

He’s wanting this...

Judgment of God’s enemies

Purifying of God’s people...

He LONGS for it!

And, I would submit to you...

…that this is not the way, Jesus...

… is usually described at VBS...

…or by Christian Celebrities.

But, it ought to be!

Because this is the Jesus of the Bible.

YES...

He’s loving

He’s kind

He’s merciful

He’s forgiving

He cares for the destitute

He’s compassionate toward PENITENT sinners

AND...

He’s righteous

Holy

Just

Has righteous indignation toward sin!

And We must affirm, cherish, and confess Him...

…in the entirety of His Holy Perfections.

-Now, look at what He says in Verse 50.

It helps us to harmonize...

…those seemingly irreconcilable attributes.

Look at it with me.

He speaks to the means...

…through which that Divine Judgment would transpire:

And it shows us, that...

…the accomplishment of it...

…was going to come...

…at great cost to himself!

Luke 12:50 (ESV)

50 I have a baptism to be baptized with...

Notice the passive voice in that.

This is something that...

will be done to him.

He will be put through.

He will undergo.

He will be immersed into.

And, here too...

…He is speaking symbolically.

How do we know that?

Because He had already...

…undergone His literal baptism.

That had been the event through which...

…he had formally entered into His earthly ministry.

-So, what does baptism symbolize here?

Simply put… The events surrounding the Cross...

Where He was plunged mercilessly...

…into the dark waters of Divine Judgment...

…and where the wrath of almighty God...

…was poured out upon Him without pity...

…and where, as a result...

…He would enter into another phase...

…of His Messianic Ministry.

-Look at what He goes on to say:

Luke 12:50 (ESV)

50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

That’s a fascinating statement.

Notice 2 things about it:

1.) His sufferings are being described as an ACCOMPLISHMENT!

“telos” in the Original!

The fulfillment or completion of something.

2.) He is “distressed” (under duress)...

…as He longs for its accomplishment.

You see, Jesus is saying, that He...

Recognizes

Understands

…that this is an appointment to suffering and death.

Yet, He is wilfully submitting Himself to it...

…even though He’s fully aware...

…of what He’ll have to endure...

…in order to accomplish it!

Why?

Because it was the will of His Father...

…to glorify the Godhead...

…and to redeem the elect!

And that, above all else...

…was His highest desire:

Let me show you what I mean:

John 4:34 (ESV)

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 10:17–19 (ESV)

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

John 12:27–33 (ESV)

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name.” . . .

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Notice again, the two-fold result

John 18:11 (ESV)

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 19:30 (ESV)

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Brethren, it seems obvious to me...

…that this is what...

…Jesus is referring to in Verse 50.

And it would/did/will yet...

...ACCOMPLISH everything that it was meant to do!

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-But… many people at the time...

...(and some still today)...

…had/have some misguided notions...

…about what the Kingdom of God...

…would look like on the earth...

…in the period of time, that would...

...immediately follow the Messianic Victory.

They imagined that it would...

…immediately set right all earthly wrongs...

…and usher in an age of victory and peace...

…greater than what was experienced...

…under the reign of King Solomon.

And indeed, the prophets had predicted such a restoration...

But it wouldn’t come...

At the time

In the way

…that they were expecting.

And, Jesus makes that clear...

…in the verses that follow.

-First, He asks them this rhetorical question:

Luke 12:51 (ESV)

51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? . . .

i.e., to set up a temporal kingdom...

with great pomp, wealth, and outward tranquility?

Before we see His answer...

…let’s consider what our reply would have been...

…had we been living at that time.

I think most of us (myself included)...

…(apart from the direct illumination of the Holy Spirit)...

…would have answered, “yes!”

Let me show you why I say that.

Remember these Messianic promises:

Isaiah 2:4 (ESV)

4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Isaiah 65:25 (ESV)

25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

And remember the Angelic Announcement...

…that attended Christ’s birth:

Luke 2:10–11 (ESV)

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Then the angelic hosts...

…made this pronouncement...

…about the effects of His birth:

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace...

Now, here’s an important qualifier.

What’s the rest of the verse?

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

What’s my point?

Jesus did accomplish peace...

…in certain ways, for certain people...

…at His FIRST Coming:

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

But, the fire of Christ’s presence...

...affects different people in different ways.

Remember what Simeon prophesied...

…just a few verses later:

Luke 2:34–35 (ESV)

34 . . . “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

And, I think that is the paradox...

…that Jesus is referring to in our text.

He goes on to answer the question himself:

Luke 12:51 (ESV)

51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

I love what Lange’s commentary says, here:

When the Holy One of God comes into personal contact with an unholy world, a shock and strife is inevitable,

and that not only against Him personally, but also among men themselves, inasmuch as these begin to distinguish themselves into adversaries and subjects of His kingdom — Lange’s Commentary

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The presence of God...

…forces a separation between:

The Holy and the Profane

Those who fear Him/do not

Those who are his enemies/submit to his authority.

The Cross of Jesus Christ...

…forces every sentient human being...

…to align themselves into one of those two groups.

And that, my friends...

…caused a vast an inescapable fire...

…to be kindled on the earth.

A fire that would invade and divide...

…even the most sacred of earthly unions:

Luke 12:52–53 (ESV)

52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.

“from now on” indicates that...

…this will be ongoing

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Is Jesus telling us...

…that it’s now okay to set aside the Fifth Commandment?

Of course NOT!

He’s not saying that...

…the Christian will be the one severing the relationship...

…through arrogance, condescension, and contemptuous treatment.

Our commands are clear:

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)

14 Strive for peace with everyone...

Romans 12:18 (ESV)

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

This is not a license to...

Mistreat people

Disrespect you parents

Disinherit your children

Write-off earthly relationships.

It isn’t YOU that is to cause the division...

It’s their hostile response...

…to the Gospel that you confess.

J.C. Ryle said this:

“Let us never be moved by those who charge the Gospel with being the cause of strife and divisions upon earth.… It is not the Gospel which is to blame, but the corrupt heart of man.…

So long as some men and women will not repent and believe, and some will, there must needs be division. — Ryle

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Brethren, Jesus is simply telling us ahead of time:

That, when we cast our lot in with Him...

That, when we become subjects of His Kingdom...

It may just cost us every earthly thing that we hold dear!

-On another occasion...

…Jesus preached a similar message.

But there, he added a few things...

…that help us to understand His impetus...

…much more clearly:

Matthew 10:34–39 (ESV)

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

That’s a radical shift in covenant paradigm!

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

This is the call of the Gospel, brethren.

This is what it means...

…to be a disciple of Christ!

Is He worth it?

Is He worth more than everything else combined?

Is He the Pearl of Great Price?

Amen! He is!

Let’s pray for grace and strength...

…to answer His call, this morning.