DIVISION ON EARTH
LUKE 12: 51-53 NKJV
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law."
A big misconception that we hear about every Christmas is that Christ will bring peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
This was the message of the angels to the shepherds the night Jesus was born. But in our passage today, Jesus declares that He did not come to bring peace on earth but rather division. So who is right? Jesus or the angels?
Both are correct. When the angels spoke of peace and goodwill toward men, men did not rightly discern that word. The peace is not among men but rather a peace with God and man. No longer would God and man be at odds. Romans 5:1 says that we now have peace with God through our faith in the Lord Jesus. There is not a division between God and man.
Jesus referenced that He gave us His peace in John 14:27. Jesus also said that there would be wars and rumors of wars in the last days. (Mark 13:7) So the peace He offers is internal as a result of our relationship with God. Even with the wars and commotion we see around us, we can have His peace in our hearts.
We are not promised peace among men until the day Jesus establishes His reign as King for 1,000 years. (Revelation 20:6)
Now we can better understand that Jesus is saying there will be a division among men in regard to those who have received Him.
Those who have been made new creations in Christ are spiritually divided from those who have never received eternal life.
APPLICATION:
Many people have experienced this division in their own families. We know of people who had family members turn against them for accepting Christ.
In some Middle Eastern countries, believers have been kicked out of their homes for becoming Christians. Some have experienced family members attempting to murder them.
Jesus is most definitely the dividing line. You can mention God in most circles without causing too much of a stir. But mention Jesus, and you run the risk of clearing the crowd.
But we have to be willing to accept that division. And do what we can to reach out to those who do not know Christ. When they accept Him, the division goes away