#86 Luke 12:49-53 The Division of People

On August 28, 2022 by Amy Burgin

Joy:
Episode #86 Luke 12:49-53

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you could make it. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.

Amy:
Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for just that. Amid a world of many words and many troubles, we slow down here and make space for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that carry us through our troubles. This is the kind of podcast I am in dire need of. Each week Joys reads a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke, focusing on the red-lettered words of Christ.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before Joy reads today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week, we pour out our heart out to God, so that He might fill us up with exactly what we need. So whatever it is, tears we can’t quite explain, heartache we can’t put a finger on, a thanksgiving list, a wish list, whatever it is, take the next minute to tell God about it.

[Pause and pour out your heart to God]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
I’m going to read today’s text two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this tell us about God?

First, let me remind you of the setting for today’s passage. Jesus and his disciples are surrounded by a crowd of many thousands trampling on each other. Jesus is talking to his disciples. He has warned them about religious leaders or anyone who abuses people. Jesus teaches that a day is coming when they will be held accountable for their choices. He continues speaking in today’s passage, Luke 12:49-53 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Again?

Take a minute to be still and know what this says about God.

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider a different question. What does this tell us about people?

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?

Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?

Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know him more.

One Response

Amy:
I”m reminded of Colossians 3:11, which says, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

There is no division of people except for the division created by our choice, a choice to follow Christ and mimic his ways, or not, a division described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46, where he says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

I love that we serve a God who separates.

I love that He keeps himself holy, totally separate from even a single drop of injustice.

I love that He will not allow the abusers, the greedy or haughty by choice to enter in and soil the beauty of goodness and justice.

I love that He offers to make us holy, separating us from our own sin, making a way for all those who want to be like him to come to the doors of his kingdom and enter in.

Closing

Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.