The God of Division
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just get along? So opines every parent, and almost every other “authority figure”. Sure it might be nice if we all got along better. But is it natural for us to get along? Is it even really preferable?
Reflecting on our broader culture, what are some reasons we might not get along and can they be resolved?
I think we can all agree there are times that we have legitimate, irreconcilable differences that will necessarily divide us. It’s almost like Solomon knew what he was talking about.
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
What is true in general, is true specifically in every element of our lives. There will be division:
in our world
in our country
in our region
in our state
in our town
in our home
in our self
in our church
Religious leaders and the irreligious are actually not divided in their dislike of that last one. Surely, churches—and maybe all religions—should just get along.
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
Except that we clearly are not one. How could we be one? We would have to agree with each other about everything. And we don’t . And we shouldn’t.
Transition
No matter how you look at society, you will find that it is divided in some way. You will also generally find that there is hostility of some kind along the border of that division. We generally look to Jesus as a solution, but what if He’s the problem?
Illumination
Jesus was no stranger to strange statements. He made just such a statement in our text.
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law.”
Fire Is the Desire, 49
Fire Is the Desire, 49
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
It is the embodiment of God’s wrath
It is the embodiment of God’s wrath
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
It is the embodiment of destruction
It is the embodiment of destruction
It is the embodiment of purification
It is the embodiment of purification
(because it destroys impurities)
It is the embodiment of preparation
It is the embodiment of preparation
(because it sweeps away the old)
Because of all that fire embodies, Jesus wished it were already burning. Why?
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Once creation is burned away, God can create anew. This is what Jesus wished for. But creation has only ever existed as a place for mankind to exist, and they needed to secured before the earth could be renovated.
Salvation Is the Need, 50
Salvation Is the Need, 50
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!
Jesus’ “baptism”, the purpose in which He was immersed and for which He would soon die, was rescuing mankind from the coming fire.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Division Is the Reality, 51-53
Division Is the Reality, 51-53
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law.”
Peace is the desire
Peace is the desire
“peace” meaning harmonious relationship. Harmonious, not homogenous.
Division is the delivery
Division is the delivery
“division” meaning a discussion or other dissension that results in separation
Disagreement is the heart
Disagreement is the heart
Divided household with changing loyalties, 52
Divided household with changing loyalties, 52
Divided relationships with challenging consequences, 53
Divided relationships with challenging consequences, 53
Father vs Son
Mother vs Daughter
Mother-in-law vs Daughter-in-law (times must have changed, because that one seems obvious)
Conclusion
This is definitely one of Jesus’ hard teachings. We may wish that we were truly the United States of America. But we need to remember what it would take for that to happen: one “side” or the other—on every source of division—would have to be eliminated. Sure, we could strive for harmonious relationships rather than homogenous relationships. But even then, some positions have too much contrast to ever be harmonized.
Application
So what are we to do as we live in these Divided States of America? Follow Jesus lead!
Wish for Fire
Work for Salvation
Welcome the Division
