Getting Along

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

‘Father will be divided against son

and son against father;

mother against daughter

and daughter against mother;

and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law

and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ ”

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.” (Luke 12:49-59)

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the world. Instead, he said that he came to divide it. How so? Isn’t the gospel good news? Doesn’t Jesus offer us peace, not as the world gives? Didn’t he say that the world would know Christians were his disciples because of the love they would have for one another?

Jesus offered peace to his followers. But just as Jesus was estranged from his own family thanks to his ministry, so those who choose Christ may find themselves at odds with their family, their friends, their religious leaders, and their government. Peace is not always possible or even desirable. The religious establishment and the Roman government violently opposed Jesus and his disciples. Jesus was and continues to be a divisive figure.

There is a time for peace, and a time for conflict. Jesus brought the truth when he came to Earth. Some people liked the truth, some people didn’t. That’s the way it has always been and always will be. What matters most to you? The truth, or just keeping your head down and getting along?