Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Series C)
August 14th, 2016
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53 (54-56)
Epistle: Hebrews 11:17-40; 12:1-3
Lesson: Jeremiah 23:16-29
Psalm: Psalm 119:81-88
CLB Commentary – Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen
The word that strikes the reader in the opening sentence of this passage is the word “fire.” Jesus said “I have come to bring fire on the earth…” and he wishes it were already kindled. What is meant by fire, and who is affected by it? Jesus also spoke of having to undergo a baptism, and he is distressed until it comes about. These sayings appear in the midst of words of warning and judgment, and it seems that the shadow of the cross looms over him at this moment.
“I have come,” reminds us that Jesus was sent to earth for a purpose—he is faithfully carrying out the mission of his Father to redeem humankind. The fire of judgment is about to rain down on humanity, but on the cross Jesus will take that fiery judgment unto himself “and how I wish it were already kindled.” This is the baptism he will undergo, “and how distressed I am until it is completed.” One is reminded of his baptism in the Jordan, where he identified with sinful humanity by identifying with our sin, so that we one day can identify with his righteousness and glory (II Cor. 5:21).
Next we see the affects of Jesus’ work on the cross: as the Prince of Peace, he is the one who reconciles us to God and to each other. This is the ministry of reconciliation, which Paul later declares that we participate in as God’s missionary people (II Cor. 5:17-20). But there is another side to all of this—Jesus also brings division (vv. 51-53). Here Jesus quoted the prophet Micah, “For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household” (7:6). As we know, following Jesus does not always bring harmony into our lives with others. In fact, in many circumstances the result is just the opposite, even within one’s own home. For example, those who study the persecution of the church tell us that there were more Christian martyrs in the 20th century than in the total of all previous centuries combined. I once heard it said, when you get Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you don’t just get his identity, you also get his enemies. Jesus said that those who would be his disciples must take up their cross and follow him.
It is interesting to note that the New Testament word for bearing witness is “martureo.” Over time, the church associated the word with giving one’s life as a consequence of witness—the meaning that the word typically carries today. We know that suffering and martyrdom were powerful forces for Christian witness in the Roman Empire. In Acts 5, when Peter and the apostles were arrested and appeared before the Sanhedrin, they were commanded not to teach in Jesus’ name. Luke then tells us in verses 41-42 of that chapter “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” As communities of God’s missionary people commissioned and sent, Christ’s followers today will enjoy the benefits of Christ’s reconciling work, but we will also face division and opposition. The prophet Micah warned us that living for Christ will mean that those who resist Christ will also resist us. And yet the prophet Micah also followed up with these words, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me” (7:7). May we also find hope and rejoice in all things in Christ our Savior.