I Came to Bring Fire to the Earth...

Intro

I enjoy reading a lot… until it is assigned

Assigned reading somehow takes the joy out of it

*Share about shortcuts with acclerated reading*

I have also enjoyed preaching through the “Come and See” series, even though the passages have been assigned

At least until today… this week was difficult

Read Luke 12:49-53 and pray

The Good News of Judgement

Fire symbolizes judgement

Fire is likely not referring to the HS in this context

Passage sits in a greater teaching, much of which focuses on repentance and judgement

Cf. Luke 3:16-17

Jesus has come to sort the wheat from the chaff (who are truly devoted to God and who are not)

Some foreshadowing to the “division” he speaks to later

Shows that this statement is not out of line for Jesus; this has always been part of His mission

The “baptism” Jesus refers to is His death on the cross for our sins

He refers to His death as “baptism” at other times in the gospels

It is necessary for Him to die for our sins. This is how Jesus has secured our salvation

Not just His death, but His resurrection and ascension

Jesus is under great distress! He knows that the weight of the sins of the world will be placed on His shoulders

His distress becomes clear in the garden of Gethsamene (sweating drops of blood), but He feels it even now

Because of the cross, judgement is (in part) good news

How can Jesus say He longs for the fire of judgement to already be kindled? Because judgement is where every wrong can be made right

Our world is broken! Sin, famine, war, plague… it has worn me down

*Share about feelings during the last week*

Jesus is looking ahead to the fulfillment of the kingdom of God where all of Creation will be restored

Part of this restoration will include judgement of humanity, the sorting of wheat from chaff, and division of those who are truly part of God’s kingdom and those who are not

This can only be good news in light of the cross; that everyone has the opportunity in Christ to withstand God’s judgement

Not based on their righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ

The Cost of Loyalty

Never forget the peace-making mission of Jesus

Peace between God and humanity declared by the angels and made possible on the cross

Cf. Luke 2:14 ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

Peace between others preached by Jesus

Cf. Luke 6:27-28 ““But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Jesus is NOT preaching anything different here

*Apply to the divisions created during the pandemic*

Instead, Jesus is teaching that the truth of who He is will divide people as they respond differently to him (wheat and chaff)

These divisions will happen even in the closest relationships, described here as family

NOT to be sought out, but to be expected and grieved

Cf. Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

The call to action is not division, but of complete loyalty to Jesus Christ

We MUST follow Him, no matter the cost (highlight mission statement = “devoted followers of Jesus Christ”)

Cf. Matthew 10:34-39.

How fortunate we are to (most often) not have to sacrifice our family relationships to follow Jesus

Not always the case; not the case in some instances today

*Read story*

Even if we don’t have division in family over following Jesus, has family become an acceptable form of idolatry in the church?

Anything else that takes our primary allegiance away from Jesus is EXACTLY what He is preaching about

Wealth for the rich young ruler, religious prestige for many Pharisees, the comfortable and familiar for everyone who watched Jesus grow up, power for King Herod, racial tensions for many Samaritans, religious zeal for Saul, philosophy for many Greeks....

What threatens your complete loyalty to Jesus?

Family? Friends? Freedoms? Money? Authority? Comfort?

Cf. Philippians 3:8-11.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:39)

Conclusion

Pastor Afshin Ziafit found this to be true: (Read second section)

In Christ, judgement is good news; in Christ, loss becomes gain. In Christ, the lost become found. In Christ, the dead will live

It. Is. Worth. It.

Pray

Take it Home

What has Jesus cost you?

What are you holding onto so tightly that you need to let it go?