LUKE 12:49-53: THE PURPOSE OF JESUS
ON EARTH
Too often we think of Jesus’ purpose
on earth as one of peace. Scripture is clear, however, that he, being God, is
capable of judgment and will indeed carry it out to fulfill his purpose. We are
commanded to be peacemakers (not necessarily peaceful at times), but he is the
only one who can and will judge. Judgment is not peaceful though. Jesus’
purpose on earth, as presented in Luke 12:49-53, was not peace but rather
division.
Luke 12:49-53
English Standard Version (ESV)
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I
came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I
have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is
accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on
earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on
in one house there will be five 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 her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against
mother-in-law.”
Jesus’ Purpose: Judgment (vv. 49-50)
Jesus
clearly presents his purpose in this particular passage. One part of that
purpose is judgment. He says that he came to cast fire on the earth, fire being
a symbol of judgment. He also mentions baptism, which historically symbolized
destruction and death. This is why when we are baptized, it is a symbol of
being raised from death to new life. For God to be glorified and for new life
to occur, judgment has to happen.
Let
us not underestimate the power and realization of God’s judgment. It is far too
often that we overemphasize his mercy. As important as mercy is, we must not
forget that without judgment, there could be no mercy. The cross was not only a
display of mercy but also a display of wrath, of God’s judgment. This is part
one of Jesus’ purpose on earth.
Jesus’ Purpose: Division (vv. 51-53)
Part
two of his purpose on earth is division. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus say
that he came to bring people together. He instead makes it clear that he came
to divide, even dividing families. Some may ask how this can be so. Keep in
mind that the believer in Christ is to live a life above compromise and above
reproach. Therefore, our lives must be different from the lives of someone of
the world, one who is not a Christian. This, in and of itself, creates
division. Our lives do not conform to the world. This means that there will be
disagreements; there will be tension; and there will even be persecution. It
does not mean that we do not love those of the world, but it instead means that
we are different and have no part of the things they do. This was Jesus’
purpose on earth, to bring division.
Conclusion
We
try to glamorize Jesus’ purpose on earth, but it is true that his purpose was
so much more than what we have made it. In fact, I would submit that his purpose
on earth is drastically different than what most people believe. It was to
judge and to bring division. This may seem radical, but it is, in fact,
scripture. Jesus himself said as much. Let us draw two conclusions here: 1)
that we are not to judge but only God and 2) that we are to be different from
the world. This was Jesus’ purpose on earth.
