Fire on earth. Family division. Not peace on earth.
These are all claims Jesus Christ makes about his ministry in our gospel and sermon text this week from Luke 12:49-56.
They are harsh words.
Not very Gospel it seems… hardly consistent with the angelic announcement in the fields of Bethlehem of ‘peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests’ (Luke 2:14b).
Especially shocking after the ‘do not worry’ in only verse 22 of the same chapter.
It’s all part of what can be really confusing about Jesus, Christianity and the church , for believer and non-believer alike.
So on Sunday, we’ll look at what is going on here and also make sure we hear Jesus’ grace within these words.