We Take the Heat Along With Jesus based on Luke 12:49-53

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Have you ever had to take the heat for someone else? Most people do not like conflicts and arguments, especially those that end up in heated words. Most of us do not like to take the heat for our own mistakes. Most of us would rather not take the heat for someone else’s mistakes. Most people do not like to be looked down on by others. A conservative estimate is an average of 12 Christians are killed for their faith each day in different parts of the world. That is about 1 Christian is killed every two hours for believing in Jesus. In Nigeria alone from (Oct 2019–Sep 2023): The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa reports 16,769 Christians killed in that period.

II. In Luke 12:49 Jesus spoke about the heat of a fire. In words that we usually do not think of as coming from Jesus, He said, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). What was the fire Jesus came to bring on the earth? Jesus was talking about a refining fire. A refining fire separates and purifies. A refining fire separates the gold from the rest of the rock surrounding the gold and then purifies the gold. In spiritual terms, Jesus was pointing to Himself as being like a refining fire—separating the unbelievers from the believers and purifying the faith of those who believe in Jesus through tests and challenges to their faith.

III. Read Luke 12:50 and explain. In the next sentence Jesus again said something unusual. He said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). Jesus was already baptized by John the Baptizer in the Jordan River, so why would He say that He had a baptism to undergo? The baptism Jesus was pointing ahead to was not a baptism with water, but instead He was predicting His upcoming death on a cruel cross as a special kind of “baptism” that He needed to undergo. Jesus knew that His baptism with water was only the beginning of His earthly ministry of healing, teaching, and preaching. Jesus knew that His “baptism” of dying on a cross was necessary for the forgiveness of the sins of the world.

IV. Read Luke 12:51 and explain. The unexpected sayings of Jesus didn’t stop there though. Jesus continued His unusual words, by stating, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to bring division instead of peace—is that right? Jesus knew that people would be divided into two types of people—those who did not believe in Him and those who did believe in Him. People today are still divided about Jesus. Some people hate hearing the name of Jesus. Christians love hearing the name of Jesus. Some claim Jesus was a crazy man. Christians claim that Jesus is God’s One and Only Son—the world’s only hope and only Savior. We do not like to be divided concerning Jesus Christ, but divisions on this earth concerning Jesus Christ have always been around and will continue to be around until Jesus returns as Judge on the Last Day. Visible Christian congregations are divided because of the different beliefs and attitudes the members have about Jesus Christ. Families are divided because of different beliefs and attitudes about Jesus Christ. Some people mistakenly think that once they become a Christian and join a Christian congregation that things will then go smooth with no problems or troubles. Sometimes people who are brought to faith in Jesus Christ have more difficulties after they join a Christian congregation than they had before that time.

V. Read Luke 12:52-53 and explain. Jesus said, “For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 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” (Luke 12:52-53). Most families have divisions because some parents trust in Jesus and some children in the same family don’t trust in Jesus. Or divisions can result when some children trust in Jesus and some parents in the same family don’t trust in Jesus. Christians take the heat along with Jesus.

VI. A Lutheran pastor once told me that these words of Jesus about divisions are good news. I am finally beginning to understand what he meant. The fact that there are divisions in Christian churches and families is not good news. The good news is that some people believe in Jesus and His saving name and are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Whenever people stand up and proclaim their belief in Jesus, there will be divisions and persecutions. Jesus does not like divisions, but He lets His followers know, then and now, that divisions are a part of life. We can be thankful that we are on the side of Jesus, even though we will have to go through times of divisions and troubles in this life.

VII. When Jesus talked about divisions in families, He was talking about the effect of the Gospel message and not the Gospel message of good news about Jesus. There is irony though. The division of father against son is at the very heart of the Gospel message. A man was dying by being nailed to a cross. According to a Roman officer standing nearby, the victim was both a righteous man and the Son of God. In His hour of need the victim on the cross turned to His Father for help. God the Father wasn’t there for Him. He had forsaken His One and Only Son, Jesus. God the Father was divided against His One and Only Son!

Why? This division wasn’t because God the Father did not care about His One and Only Son. This division wasn’t because the Son had done anything wrong. This division was because the Son on the cross bore our wrongs, trespasses, and sins for us. Our sins divided God the Father from His One and Only Son in that division we commonly call hell. Jesus Christ bore not only our sins, but He also suffered our hell on the cross for us.

VIII. Conclusion. Because Jesus accomplished this for us, He has made us the sons and daughters of God, sons and daughters who will never be divided from our heavenly Father as we remain in the saving faith. We pray for God’s gracious favor to be with those Christians in our world today who are put in jail and mourn those who have been killed for faith in Jesus. The words of Jesus in John 16:33 are good words with which to end, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus not only took the heat for us, but He also helps us to take the heat along with Him. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.