Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
on Sunday 15 August, 2010
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56
Have you ever been watching the news, or reading the paper and thought: that can’t be right?
Early in January 2005 we had been overseas for a holiday. We were only away three weeks; not long. Jean was reading the paper when we returned to WA and asked – who was the premier? I looked amazed. Of course she knew who the premier was. I said Geoff Gallop, of course; no she said – it says here it is Alan Carpenter. No-ooo – I said – that can’t be right –it is Geoff Gallop. Well, I was wrong. Geoff Gallop had resigned for health reasons while we were away – and indeed there was a new premier.
So when we hear, for example, someone we know and respect and they are charged with a serious criminal offence – say like that strange recent murder case of Mr Rockefeller; or a couple we know who we always thought had a great marriage – and they then separate; or we see the headline like political parties agree to tackle climate change; or the Dockers win the Grand Final – it just does not seem right.
Well our gospel reading today is just like that. There must be some mistake – there must be a misprint.
Surely Luke 12:51 is wrong. Jesus could not have said – “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
In one of the early editions of the King James version of the Bible, the printer left out the word “not” in the line of the Lord’s Prayer. ‘Lead us not into temptation’. Needless to say this edition was called, the sinful bible. Something similar must have happened here. This is the divisive, confrontational Jesus. But isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace. Did not Jesus say ‘my peace I leave with you’ – ‘let not your hearts be troubled’. Jesus is all about wanting to bring about reconciliation, not division. Surely this verse is wrong.
“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
Well the troubling news is – that it is in the Bible; Jesus did seems to say these words. So what possibly could be going on here?
But first let us just ponder how dangerous it can be to take one verse of scripture and leave it stand alone – without trying to understand the context, or understand something of the life and times of Jesus. How many violent and hateful conflicts over the centuries have been justified by one verse being quoted out of context – just like this one.
But back to our verse. I want to begin by really confirming your initial thoughts. God’s will is that we live in peace; that the seven billion of us can somehow have a full life on this small planet. That we respect each other. But it is also true that there is division in the world: it happens on a tragic and an enormous scale. Just take religious divide between and among religious groupings. Ethnic, religious division, division within families – they all happen – not because God wants it, but because we are sinful people. There are even divisions within the Church; protestant /catholic; conservative and liberal; those who like loud music, those who like hymns – and so one. Into a world dominated by division I have no doubt that the Christian message is that Jesus came to overcome such division. He did come to bring peace. The Gospel message fundamentally is that Jesus came to overcome sin; to bear that sinfulness of humanity, and that we are indeed reconciled to God by his cross. This is the good news; divisions are not the way of the kingdom of God. The way of Christ is peace.
So what is happening in these verses? Some of you may have one of those bibles which mark all the words of Jesus in red. Anyone? What’s happening in Chapter 12? Well it basically is all red. This is a chapter of teaching. But the black bits are interesting. Jesus begins by teaching to many thousands. Later he is just talking with the disciples: his inner circle. And message for them gets a different edge. He actually calls them his little flock. He however, assures this “little flock” that “in the Father’s good pleasure, they will have the kingdom of God”. This is the will of God. But for them as disciples (and not necessarily the crowds) this will not be simply a bed of roses; it will not be easy. So he reminds them to be at all times ready and watchful. He tells them the story of wedding guests waiting for the return of the bridegroom. Peter, as only Peter can do, gets indignant. “Lord are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone.” No, Peter it is for you! Jesus then tells the story about the manger who puts his servant in charge while he is away; but the servant takes advantage of the situation while the boss is away. Jesus thus concludes – just prior to our passage “from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”
Jesus is talking to his close followers. . . those who really call themselves a disciple of Jesus; yes your are promised the kingdom; this is God’s pleasure. But you will have to get your priorities right, be ready and watchful. You will have an important responsibility: an important commission. Then there are these words. Jesus’ peace is not a ‘there, there’ everything will be all right, a course of least resistance, everyone is going to be happy, you will never face grumpy people, compromising sort of peace. In leadership there will be division. People will be challenged about who they are, and what there priorities are – and people will resist you.
Jesus was serious. He came with a revolutionary zeal to change and challenge the priorities of this world. He says ‘I came to bring fire to this earth’. He came to challenge the injustices of his day. He came to challenge the powers and forces of this world. He came with a sense of urgency. He says “I have a baptism – and under what stress I am until it is completed.” His objective was not political – it was spiritual; but that spiritual objective may not mean there is an absence of conflict within the world.
‘My followers you will need commitment; be watchful. There will be division, even within families.’ Jesus then outlines what might happen in families. . . and this gets really close to the bone.
Father against son; son against father
Mother against daughter; daughter against mother
Mother in law against daughter in law; and daughter in law
Notice however, that here there are very particular points of division within families. It was not just the “kids are squabbling” or a marriage breakdown between husband and wife. The division is between generations. You see the family, and the clan, the grouping of families, held the power in then Palestinian culture. That power was exercised between the generations. You just had to do what your elders said: your trade, who you married etc. There indeed are cultures today that operate on the same basis: it is what that is expected from one generation to the next generation.
Jesus was contending that there would be clashes in families because people will want to follow him. What would happen for those people who would follow him? Well, whether they were young or old, male of female, Jew or Greek, prostitute or a an upstanding citizen – they were accepted and loved by God; they were all the same in God’s eyes. You, as an individual, were recognised as being worthwhile. But – meanwhile – that same individual in the context of the social structures, like of the clan or the family – may have had no power; particularly in the relationship between the generations.
Today our great culture wars have a similar basis. In the West we recognise, because of our Christian heritage – universal principles that give rights to all people, to young and old, to male and female. Whereas other cultures, other religions – hold themselves over and against this view. It is the right of the clan or religious grouping to say what is right. Of course there are many other factors as well; but we can see the real challenge Jesus was offering within his own society. This kingdom of God he promised is based on the respect and love of all, on a personal commitment to follow him, and transformed life. It would clash with the social structures of the power of families and the clan.
What does this all mean for us today – here in Carlton?
First understand that it is God’s will to experience the kingdom of God: where we all can enjoy that peace which passes all understanding; where as children of God we can all feel valued, and we can all know what it means to be redeemed, saved – reconciled with God through the cross of Christ. We rejoice in our baptism.
However, as Jesus suggests, our baptism can clash with values around about us. Jesus is talking just to his disciples here – he is being realistic, quite stark. His kingdom values will find opposition within the world. He wants his disciples at the outset to know this. He wants them to be committed, he wants them to realise that there will be opposition to them, their lifestyle and their priorities. There is the promise, the goal – but the journey will be difficult. But then the goal will be worth it. That ggod given hope will draw us forward.
I am all sure you all have your Christian heroes. Mother Theresa, William Wilberforce, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oscar Romero; or your hero may come from scripture – like Stephen or even Paul who suffered for the sake of Christ. People form that great cloud of witnesses. I am sure these lives encountered division. In fact most of those I have mentioned were martyred – killed for their belief. This is Jesus’ reality check. Look you may not be martyred here – but for your troubles, you could have a difficult times. So at work you may just have to indicate – no I am not joining in with that, it is not acceptable; or within the family, the behaviour of a family member is just too difficult – against kingdom values. Jesus is saying if you believe in something – it will have its costs; believing in him,, will have its costs. Commit yourself to a vision of resistance, and yet profound hope and be inspired by those who have overcome such division.
