“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
Luke 12:49-51 (ESV)
This passage can be somewhat confusing. What fire did Jesus come to cast on the earth? What is this baptism He is distressed about? And why did the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) come to bring division to the earth?
There are at least two views concerning the nature of the fire Jesus came to cast on the earth. Many see it as the fire of judgment that will come at the end of the age. Others understand it as the fire of the Holy Spirit. A fire that was kindled at Pentecost. This latter view seems more likely in light of Jesus’ coming baptism.
John baptized Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. But Jesus is referring to something other than that here. In Mark 10:38-39, Jesus referred to His coming crucifixion as a cup to drink and a baptism to be baptized by. And that is most likely what He is referring to here, His coming crucifixion. A baptism that would be shortly followed by the fire of the Holy Spirit being kindled in the lives of His followers.
Jesus was fully human, and being distressed about His coming crucifixion would be only natural. Who would want to go through the agony of the cross? But Jesus never wavered in His commitment to the cross. And He looked forward to its accomplishment. Not the cross itself, but what it would accomplish: our redemption.
Bringing Peace and Division
Jesus did come to bring peace: a peace among those who would follow Him, and peace between them and God. But the peace Jesus brought would also result in division between those who experienced peace with God and those who rejected His peace. This conflict would even extend to families where some followed Jesus and others did not.
As followers of the Lord Jesus, we are at odds with the world around us. The people of this world will insult us and fight against us. And it is tempting to insult and fight back. But we are not to be like the people of this world. Return insult with blessing (1 Pet. 3:9). Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:9). As much as possible, live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18). And let the light of Christ shine through you (Matt. 5:14-16).
