This passage feels so hard. The American Gospel has trained us to only know a kind and gentle Jesus that is concerned only with my comfort and improving my life. Those are only secondary results of the true Gospel. If someone doesn’t have a felt need, that Gospel has nothing to say to them. The reality of the Gospel is that it will cost us too. Yes, we find hope, joy, and peace, but it also bids us to give our lives away.

“Baptism to be baptized with” What is this catastrophic event Jesus is referring to?

The word baptism was used a lot more metaphorically in that time. It was used regularly to mean plunged into suffering. Jesus is talking about the suffering of the cross. Matthew 20 James and John want promotion and Jesus says, “Can you be baptized in the baptism I am about to be baptized with?” Speaking of the cross.

Jesus is saying that life is full of tension until he is crucified and the work is completed.

What is the fire that Jesus is talking about casting on the earth?

Fire imagery in the Bible:

1. Consuming final judgement

2. Refining/purifying tool (most common use of fire in OT) Malachi 3:1-2 Jesus will be consumed by the judgement fire and we will be purified by it.

3. Empowering passion

-The fire is the Gospel!

The crowd would have been shocked to hear that Jesus was bringing division. The coming of the Messiah was imagined to be a time of immense peace and unity.

It’s dangerous to take an isolated scripture that doesn’t add up to the rest of scripture and form an entire doctrine on it. There is a mountain of scripture that tells that God is a God of peace who brings us peace. Followers of Jesus should be identified by the peace they carry with them. So what do we do with Jesus saying he doesn’t come to bring peace? When my broken, sinful heart longs for war and division we can pluck this passage out and brandish it as our justification. This isn’t a green light to be abrasive. Resistance itself is not an indicator that you are righteous. You might be mean.

Jesus isn’t saying he came for the purpose of division. His purpose is to bring peace, but the message will cause division. His very presence highlights those who refuse his message. Broken humanity doesn’t want to hear that they have a sin problem and the only solution is Jesus. Micah 3

Even the way that Jesus lived is divisive and hard. It rubs against the grain of our culture.

This is a warning that loyalty to Jesus might split your family. Family loyalty was assumed to be the highest value in Jesus time. Jesus is pointing to the deepest loyalty you have. The Gospel demands that whatever has your deepest loyalty must bow to Jesus. Am I willing to experience fracturing in all areas of my life if they stand in contrast to the Gospel?

Vs 54-56

Jesus is not talking about translating world events and people in an end times perspective. Matthew 24 Everything that Jesus says not to do is exactly what we do in the modern church.

Jesus is saying they have a blindness for their own spiritual condition. They don’t recognize who Jesus is and that he is right in front of them.

How do we interpret the times? Look around and ask God “what are you doing, how should I pray, where am I blind, what is your heart?”

Vs 57-59

Jesus didn’t switch to legal advice. This is still a response to the King showing up. Jesus is saying I’m going to suffer and give you purification. You should take advantage of that while you can. The assumption is you are guilty. Try with everything in you to get it taken care of before you stand before the judge (God). The only way to get out of debtors’ prison is if someone comes and pays the debt for you.