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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Jesus, bringer of division. Division is the action of separating something into parts. “Jesus, bringer of division” means Jesus will be the reason why people will be separated from one another. Jesus enlightens his audience about the two types of division that He will bring into the world. These are

1. Eschatological division
2. Existential Division

First, Jesus warns us about His eschatological division. Eschatology is the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. In other words, Jesus will bring division into the world through His final judgment. It is for this reason, He said “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. (Luke 12:49-51). The fire Jesus will bring on earth is the Judgement. This judgement will separate the saved from the unsaved. When the time of the Judgement or eschatological division takes place, Jesus says that “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:40-42). The refreshing and heart-warming news is that, before the judgement that will finally divide the world takes place, Jesus came into the world to graciously give us an opportunity to repent and be saved through His suffering, death on the cross and resurrection. It is, for this reason, He said “…But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! (Luke 12:50) Dear friend, we are in the period of grace, therefore let us repent, accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and be saved! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18) Let us remember that during the eschatological division or the judgment, Jesus warns us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23. Beloved in the Lord, which part of the division will you belong to when Jesus returns to judge the world? Will you belong to the division of the saved or unsaved? Once we are alive and can read this reflection, we still have another opportunity to decide our fate through the choice we make today. May the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and will.

Second, Jesus brings existential division through the power of the Gospel. Those who accept the Good News or the Gospel and become the disciples of Jesus will be separated from unbelievers. Jesus has already informed us that “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 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.” (Luke 12:52-53) In some families, believers or disciples of Christ will be strongly opposed and persecuted by unbelieving family members. In reality, some families are divided because some of the members have accepted the Gospel and others are still living in the world. In other words, we have darkness and light existing in the same family or house. Usually, family members who are disciples of Christ are hated because they will always insist on living a life of truth and righteousness to glorify God than pleasing others who are unbelievers. Regardless of the division and opposition, Jesus assures us that “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12). There is a cliche that “if you cannot beat them join them.” We must be watchful through the study of Scripture, prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that will not be persuaded to give up our faith and salvation to follow our unrepentant family members into darkness. There is a strong temptation to sometimes follow unrepentant family members because of their support and influence on us as father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister and brother. It is sometimes easy to be persuaded by a family member to reject the Gospel therefore we must be on guard because the same people who love us may be the reason why we may reject Christ and miss our salvation. Remember, “…the message of the cross (the Gospel) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18). Let us remain faithful to Jesus our Saviour when it comes to our relationship with our family members, blood is thicker than water but when it comes to salvation, the blood of Jesus is thicker than familial blood. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help us to always belong to the division of those who are saved. Strengthen us to remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ even in the face of persecution and rejection by our family members. Amen.