Proper 15
14 August 2016
Luke 12:49–53
Luke 12:51
The fire of God’s Word divides
Go in Peace or to Pieces
The Lord Jesus
causes fear and trembling and division because His Word is “like fire … and like a hammer that breaks
the rock in pieces” (Jer. 23:29). His Law puts us all to death, whereas
only His Gospel can bring us to life. He has fulfilled that Word for us by His
cross and in His resurrection from the dead.
He undergoes such a
distressing Baptism, accomplished by His death, in order to open the way for us
through our Holy Baptism into His cross and resurrection. So, then, if we are
able “to interpret the appearance of
earth and sky” (Luke 12:56), let us mark this sign of His cross —
recognizing that this world is subject to death, but knowing that Christ Jesus
also has conquered death and obtained life everlasting for us.
Let us fix our eyes
on “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of
our faith” and “run with endurance
the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1–2).
Blessed Lord, You
have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we
may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience
and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed
hope of everlasting life;
Do you think I
came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. - Luke 12:51
These are difficult words to be sure. We usually think of Jesus in
terms of the Prince of Peace. Our Gospel lesson reminds us there is another
side of Jesus and His effect. He can also cause trouble, controversy,
disharmony, and division.
Jesus will have no cheap peace. Sometimes He says, “Go in peace,” but
other times people go to pieces in terms of disagreement and division. Jesus is
telling us that it is not His way to have peace at any price; agreement with
falsehood, compromise with evil. When Jesus enters as truth, love, and goodness
people divide themselves pro and con.
It is said that wherever St. Paul preached there was either a revival
or a riot.
With Jesus, there is no neutral ground: you are either for or against
Him. The division occurs even in the close-knit family: some for, some against
– Jesus.
How Jesus causes division.
1. He speaks the Truth.
A. If the Word had not been preached the world would have gone on undisturbed.
But the preaching of the Word causes divisions, not because of God or because
of the Word, but because of the utter sinfulness of man.
B. This is why Jesus came preaching both Law as well as Gospel. In the
Gospel of John, the Savior reminds us, “If I had not come and spoken to them,
they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their
sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well.
If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty
of sin. Now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both my
Father and me. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated
me without reason.” - John 15:22-25
The sin of Jesus' enemies are both deliberate and inexcusable. The
miracles Jesus performed and the words He had spoken were clear. They were
light and life. But they would have noting of it. They could not take Jesus’
clear word. Human nature has not changed. People will embrace Him and champion
His cause or they will reject, refuse and revolt.
Transition: Jesus causes division
when He speaks the truth. He causes division when He refuses to compromise.
2. He refuses to compromise
principles.
A. The sinless Christ suffered at the hands of His own people. They finally
brought Him to death. The fire of God is not necessarily an eternal flame.
Luther “The Gospel is sometimes like a refreshing summer shower. It can go from
one place to the other.” Where is the center or world Christianity today? It
resides in the continent of Africa.
B. The fire of God can and sadly sometimes goes out.
1. By the water of worldliness.
2. By smothering the fire by the cares of this life.
3. By letting it burn out for lack of fuel. Sometimes it’s rust out
instead of burn out.
Transition: Jesus causes division
when He speaks the truth. He causes division when He refuses to compromise, and
when He lives by love.
3. He lives by love.
A. The fire of God’s love can and must be used for good.
1. The fire is contagious.
2. If a Christian is on fire for God, those who come in contact are set
on fire too.
B. Christians, followers of Jesus are to be spiritual arsonists. As we
gossip the Gospel, we want to deliberately set others on fire with the Gospel
of Christ.
1. Jesus tells us “I have come to set fire to this earth”
2. Where will the next fire be set? Who will set it? What will be the
result riot or revival?
Christ’s suffering in the fire for us enables us to endure the heat.
The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, “endured the cross despising
the shame” {Hebrews 12:2}
He did all this for you. In the midst of our struggles we “consider Him
who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself” so that we do not grow
weary or fainthearted.” He suffered itself in your place when His Father
forsook him so that you will not be rejected.
Your baptism into His baptism of death is the pledge that you will be
with Him in Paradise. He uses the fiery trials you experience as a Christian to
refine, purify and disciple you. True. The cost of discipleship is great, but
He paid the ultimate price in your place and now uses even trials for your
benefit.
Words –1,035
Passive Sentences –8%
Readability –78%
Reading level – 5.8
Face of Christ - http://spiritlessons.com/Documnets/Jesus_Pictures/Jesus_Christ_Pictures.htm
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