Jesus Isn’t Your Therapist – Luke 12:49-59

Manuscript

“Jesus is Not Your Therapist”

The Gospel of Luke

Vol. 5 (Luke 10-12)

Luke 12:49-59

The Text

I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

Intro

I wonder what your conception of Jesus is.

• 1980s, JP II & Liberation Theology
• 1940s, Walter Grundmann & De-Judaized Aryan Jesus
• 19^th C., Adolf Von Harnack & Liberal Theology
• 18^th C., Jefferson’s “Life & Morals of Jesus of Nazareth”

More Recently:

• Therapeutic Jesus, Jesus-as-mentor, Jesus-as-non-judgmental-buddy.

If we read the gospels and allow the real Jesus to speak for himself, who does he say he is?

What does he say he came to do?

• Luke 9:51-19, travelogue.
• Opposition mounting.

1. Jesus Came to Cast the Fire of Judgment (12:49-50)

2. Jesus Divides Rather than Brings Peace (12:51-53)

3. The Present Time Must Be Discerned (12:54-56)

4. Settle with God While You are Still on the Way (12:57-59)

1. Jesus Came to Cast the Fire of Judgment (12:49-50)

⁴⁹ “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

Old Testament Imagery

• God appears in fire
• Sends fire
• And judges by fire.

First, God appears as Fire

• Genesis 15:17 – Smoking Pot, Flaming Torch
• Exodus 3:2 – Burning Bush
• Exodus 19:18 – Sinai
• Ezekiel 1:27 – “appearance of fire all around.”

Second, God Sends Fire

• Genesis: 19:24-25 – Sodom & Gomorrah
• Leviticus 10:1-2 – Nadab & Abihu

Third, God Judges by Fire

God’s anger against sin burns like fire. (Hos 8:5) The prophets – The Day of the Lord

Malachi 4, the last chapter of prophecy before you get to the New Testament:

¹“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

When Jesus says, “I came to cast fire on the earth,” there would be no mistaking what he was claiming.

“The day of the Lord has arrived… I came to cast fire, and I wish it was kindled.”

⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

• “Distress” = constrained, besieged.

• “Baptism” – immersion, cleansing.

Metaphor for Jesus coming crucifixion. (Mk 10:38) Why baptism? Isn’t baptism associated with water?

Two great judgments in Scripture:

• Genesis 6/7 – The Flood
• 2 Peter 3:6-7 – Coming fire.

And, how does God kindle the fire of his divine wrath? He kindles it with a cross of wood upon which his own Son hangs.

• Final Judgement has Begun

2. Jesus Divides Rather than Brings Peace (12:51-53)

⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

• I thought Jesus came to bring peace? Yes. Peace with God
• Division of the closest bonds.
• Those who do not take up the cross of Christ criticize those who do.

3. The Present Time Must Be Discerned (12:54-56)

Parable of clouds coming from the West – Rain.

⁵⁶ You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

What was the present time for them?

• The expiration of the Mosaic Covenant.
• The precipice of the New Covenant.

What is the present time for us?

• Resurrection and Ascension has occurred.
• The church has spread.
• 2,000 years later.
• Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ.
• Fiery judgment.

4. Settle with God While You are Still on the Way (12:57-59)

Applications:

Gospel

• This passage destroys the modern image of a domesticated Jesus who never confronts, divides, or judges.
• At the same time, it offers hope because it offers us a Jesus who underwent the baptism of judgment for us.
• Jesus didn’t come to make life smoother. He came to bear judgment, because he comes again to bring judgment.

Family & Relationships

• Parents the “present time.” Evangelize and disciple your children.
• Standing for Christ will being division. You will at times find yourselves in rooms you are not welcome.

Our Church

• The shape of our worship—confession of sin. We do honest business with God.

Witness to Unbelievers

• Speak plainly about who Jesus said he is and what he has come to do. Invite them to read the gospel with you and see for themselves who he claimed to be.
• Invite them to settle with God today.