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Day 167

Luke 12:49-53 "I CAME TO SEND FIRE ON THE EARTH..." Luke 12:49"

Day 167 – Luke 12

Text: Luke 12:49-53

“I CAME TO SEND FIRE ON THE EARTH…” Luke 12:49

As Jesus spoke to the multitude and His Disciples, He spoke about how He had come “to send fire on the earth”. What did Jesus mean by this statement? Let us examine this important statement of Jesus very carefully, for it is obviously of great significance.

The idea of “fire on the earth” may well be drawn from the prophecy of Isaiah.

“The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
and His indignation to his enemies.

For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.

For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.”
Isaiah 66:14-16

Thus far, this aspect of the Mission of the Lord Jesus was not highlighted. However, this does not mean that the aspect of Jesus as Judge was not present. There was a time when Jesus sought to teach the multitudes about the mercy of God, and how through repentance and faith, they could be admitted into the Kingdom of God. There came another time when Jesus had to warn the multitudes that there will come certain judgment on those who were wicked and unrepentant! There will be more who belong to this category than expected.

“HOW I WISH IT WERE ALREADY KINDLED…” Luke 12:49

We are almost alarmed by these startling words! What did Jesus mean when He uttered these words? Let us bear in mind that Jesus knew the hearts of His hearers! He could also see into the future! He knew that the human heart was most obdurate! People would not repent and change easily! Whether now or in the future, the human heart would always be what He saw. There would always be wicked, and unfaithful servants who would abuse what God has entrusted to them.

Jesus had personally come into the world to teach people about God, His Father in Heaven. They were happy to come and hear Him speak, be healed of all their diseases, but deep down, many of them could be compared to the wicked servants in the parable just told.

If they did not know how to appreciate Jesus there and then, how would they be able to fully appreciate Him later? Of course there would be some who would still come to salvation, but these in comparison would be fewer in number than those who would reject Him.

An important word to note is the word “kindled”. The basic idea of this word is “burning”. Did Jesus have in mind a full conflagration? Perhaps not! However, if the multitudes could just catch sight of the ultimate fire of God’s fury, then they might be more responsive to His teachings.

If they had seen the kindling of the fire that would one day judge all the unrepentant, they might respond more quickly, and in a humble spirit! However, the ministry of Jesus on earth did not include the element of fire! Thus many deceived themselves, thinking that there was only one aspect of Jesus to appreciate. They would take His kindness for granted! They did!

“BUT I HAVE A BAPTISM TO BE BAPTIZED WITH…” Luke 12:50

God had already planned the life and ministry of Jesus! There would come the day when He would return to this earth. When He comes again, it would be with fire!

However, there was one special task that had to be accomplished first. This was described cryptically as “a baptism”. Obviously, this was NOT a reference to the “baptism” that Jesus received from John.

This word “baptism” was used symbolically as a reference to His suffering and death. Jesus had already spoken to His Disciples on this subject. He warned His Disciples that He would one day “be betrayed into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44). Understanding of His suffering was hidden from His Disciples at that point of time. They were still not ready or able to comprehend this important truth, and so Jesus chose to use the word “baptism” cryptically to refer to His death.

“AND HOW DISTRESSED I AM TILL IT IS ACCOMPLISHED” Luke 12:50

There is no question about the fact that Jesus was thoroughly prepared to suffer and die on the Cross, so that He could redeem man. When He said that He was “distressed” we must not think that He would go reluctantly to the Cross.

Jesus had accepted the fact that His life would include great suffering. He was mentally prepared for the suffering. What then did He mean when He spoke of being “distressed”?

The word “distressed” in the Greek text describes a person who is hard pressed. Forces of circumstances would bring about a sense of being “squeezed in”. The person is literally “boxed in”.

This was what Jesus was expressing when He spoke about being “distressed”. He felt that very soon His suffering would begin, and that would of course lead to His death. He could not help but feel the “pressure” of the task at hand!

HOW WE MUST APPRECIATE SO MUCH MORE WHAT JESUS MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH FOR US!

Oftentimes, we take our salvation for granted. We fail to appreciate what He must have gone through for us, until a little word like “distress” reminds us that He must have gone through very deep and intense struggles within the depths of His soul, as He walked down the road leading to Calvary. “But We see Jesus…” Do you see Him a little better today?