Luke 12:49-12:59 February 15, 2024
https://resources.ccphilly.org/SAM767
JOE’S PREFACE:
Jesus concludes this discourse on eternity by talking about His own passion and the distress He was under thinking about the cross. He then warns them about division which will come from following Him. Lastly, there is a responsibility for us to see the things around us and make sure we respond accordingly.
49 “I [a]have come to cast fire upon the earth; and [b]how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to [c]undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but [d]why do you not analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to [e]settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last [f]cent.”
NOTES TYPED FROM JOE’S TEACHING:
Jesus continues his discourse on eternity. HE DEALS with things that are important for believers who are no longer of this world. His future crucifixion is weighing on him. In Hebrews it says he was heard in his strong crying and tears because he feared. He never feared in any other setting…not the storm, not the anger of the religious people…but his crucifixion caused him fear. Look out for hypocrisy, covetousness, anxiety, ! Instead wait for the Lord. Do all you can to prepare for his coming.
He says here that he is come into the world to send fire on the earth…but he has a baptism that he must be baptized with. This is not a popular teaching. It isn’t popular in our world. It is very dogmatic. He is being straight forward and telling the truth. Not politically correct or “kind” as the world sees kindness. Christianity is a revealed faith. It is not something that human beings made up and invites everyone into a kumbaya experience. It is a divinely revealed faith from an eternal God revealed to humans who are lost and in sin and need to be forgiven. God has a lot of nerve! Doesn’t he care about our self-esteem. What could be better for our self-esteem than to know that there is a holy unapproachable God that cares about us so much that he sent his only son into the world to die a horrible death so that he could put his arms around us again.
What fire is Jesus talking about? His cross, certainly, but what is the fire? J the B said Jesus would baptize with holy ghost and with fire…whose fan is in his hand…he will gather the wheat but burn the chaff…baptizing with the holy ghost is relative to new birth and regeneration…the chaff burning is judgment. Jesus says I am come to send fire, literal fire, on the earth. He is emotional here. He wishes it was already kindled (passive here) baptized (passive) till it be accomplished (passive) …these things are going to come upon him. It is squeezing him. It is tightening on him. Until it be finished…he is saying he came into the world with a purpose. This is the ultimate judgment and he has a baptism to be baptized with. It is tightening around him till it is finished. In that process he would take the fire he will send on a Christ rejecting world and remove it from you and I in his baptism. That cup of God’s wrath is removed from you and I. Something happened there that we will never know. We don’t see Jesus as emotionally distraught, weighed down. But here he is, highly emotional and weighed down.
He experienced division. Division within his family, division with the religious community. Division between man and God, however, was ended when he was baptized with the baptism he had to be baptized with. We are born again of the spirit of God. We can experience religious hostility by family and friends. There is one relationship that takes precedence over any natural relationship. That is our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the point of the great divide. The family of God is often a more real family than our natural family.
Now he looks at two parables, pictures. One a court picture, the other a farming picture. He tells them they respond to evidence with the weather why are they not responding to all the evidence that he is the Messiah? It is evident that he is the one, through fulfilment of prophecy and his power that is supernatural, why can they not know to at least check the scriptures? At times there were upwards of 40,000 people following him. He warns them many times that they are close to blaspheming the Holy spirit. The idea being that the HS was telling them loud and clear that this is the messiah: the eyes of blind opened, lame leaping. Tells the lepers to not tell anyone but go offer the sacrifice for healing as a testimony to the priests. This had never happened. The priests should have taken notice. Instead they ascribe his work to Satan. He comes to Jerusalem sobbing, weeping that they did not accept him. If they had the Kingdom would have been theirs. He held them accountable. They refused to acknowledge the critical time that was one them.
We have more biblical forecasting around us then they did. We don’t have the day and the hour…but wars and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, deception. When he comes will he find us busy with HIS business? We are worried about the economy, the election….but this cannot go on for ages! We are on course for the end. How do we get ready? Not sure, this is new territory. Get ready? Pray, pray for mercy and revival in this country and in our own lives. Make sure our lives are right before him. We should respond to the evidence he is showing us. Forgive. If you need to settle things with someone, forgive. If sin is creeping in, stop. Jesus is coming. Live like you believe it. Do what is right like you would if you were going to court. Settle it. Get things right before you end up in front of the judge who then judges you because you can’t pay your debt.
QUESTIONS: WHAT ARE SOME ways that we can live like we believe he is coming tomorrow or today? Do we dare to be dogmatic like the Lord about sin and judgment? About truth? Do we know what it means to tell the truth in love? Read these or other teachings on what it means to speak the truth in love.. Come prepared for a discussion with Biblical evidence and ways in which we can practice this highly necessary skill.
GOT QUESTIONS: WHAT IS DOES IT MEAN TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE (Video)
GOT QUESTIONS: Is it unloving to tell someone he/she is sinning?
https://www.gotquestions.org/unloving-sinning.html
The Art of Lorna McLaughlin 