Bible Passage: Luke 12:49-53
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: August 17, 2025

Bulletin – August 17, 2025

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Nothing can disrupt a peaceful situation quite like a fire.  A peaceful night of sleep is interrupted by a smoke alarm going off.  A family scrambles to get out of a house now in flames.  The street is now busy with fire trucks and police cars.  It is anything but a peaceful, tranquil scene.

Or we might think of the wildfires we hear about in California.  What could be more peaceful than a beautiful home overlooking the southern California hills?  Until a wildfire is heading toward your direction.  Then there is panic and frenzy to get out.  You will agree that scenes of approaching flames and evacuation efforts do not appear “peaceful.”  Fire destroys peace.

Today in our text Jesus yells, “Fire!”  And this fire will disrupt the lives and the peace of many.  And here’s the thing about this fire.  Jesus starts it!  On purpose!  In fact, he wants it to burn!  Let’s take a deeper look at this occasion when Jesus yells, “Fire!”

Our text begins with Jesus saying, I came to throw fire on the earth. (v. 49)  The fire of which Jesus speaks is not incidental or accidental to his coming into this world.  It is essential!  It is of the essence.  Jesus says it is why he came.  He WANTS to set the world on fire!  On the day he speaks the words of our text he even adds, [H]ow I wish it was already ignited. (v. 49)  So the fire was not yet burning.

Fires always have a cause.  In the case of wildfires it may be a lightning strike or a campfire that was not completely put out.  In the case of a house fire it may be faulty electrical wiring or a carelessly left cigarette.  What will cause the fire Jesus speaks about?  He tells us.  I have a baptism to undergo. (v. 50)  A baptism is going to start this fire!

Jesus is not referring to the time he was baptized by John the Baptist.  Jesus speaks of a baptism in the future.  The mere thought and mention of it causes Jesus to say, How distressed I am until it is finished! (v. 50)  Jesus is referring to his upcoming suffering and death.  Jesus calls it a “baptism” he must undergo.  In the Bible, a “baptism” meant a big, life-changing event.  Often it involved entrance into something new.  What could be bigger and more significant in the life of Jesus than that he would give it on the cross as a ransom for all sinners?   On Easter Jesus would come out of the tomb with new life in the glory of the Father (Romans 6).  And his life, death, and resurrection would be the way for humanity to have new life, new hope, new happiness!  His death and resurrection would fill our baptisms with saving power!

The good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the “spark” that would set the world on fire.  The Gospel will disrupt and upend.  That is what Jesus is talking about when he says in our text, Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division. (v. 51)  This is the Prince of Peace saying he didn’t come to bring peace!  He did come to make peace between you and God by his death and rising.  But that message is going to become the line of demarcation between those who believe it and those who don’t.  And as the old saying goes.  “Aye, there’s the rub!”

It didn’t take long after Jesus’ “baptism of blood” for the world to burn.  We can think of Jesus’ apostles shortly after his ascension to heaven.  They preached the good news of Jesus, and Jerusalem begins to burn.  And the powers-that-be didn’t like it.  They tell the apostles to “cease and desist.”  They imprison and beat and threaten the apostles.  Still they preach.  The fire spreads and gets bigger.  Beginning with a man named Stephen, the authorities now begin to kill people because they believe in Jesus.  The Gospel had upset the “shalom” in Jerusalem!

The apostle Paul traveled with the Gospel.  Traveling around to the north of the Mediterranean Sea.  And peaceful cities were set on fire.  We are told that when Paul was done in Iconium the people of the city were divided. (Acts 14:4) Some believed in Jesus, some did not.  Paul would be stoned and left for dead in Lystra for the horrible crime of preaching Christ.  Not a very “peaceful” thing to do to a preacher of peace!  In Ephesus, the preaching of Jesus Christ would cause a riot (Acts 19).  So much for “peace”!  The preaching of Jesus brings out man’s natural enmity and hostility toward God and the things of God.  Man hates being told he must repent of sin and be saved by Jesus, or not be saved at all!

Of course, Jesus’ words in our text reveal that the message of the cross will sometimes disrupt the peace, not in cities or empires, but in homes.  Moms and dads will be divided from their children and in-laws.  Maybe you know all too well the pain of Jesus’ words.  You have been the father now divided from a son, because of Jesus.  You have been the mother now divided from a daughter over Jesus.  You have been the “in-laws” now unwelcome because of Jesus.  There are countries in the world today where a child who comes home and confesses they are Christian will be put to death.  So great the fire burns in this world!

Why does Jesus yell, “Fire”?  Usually when you yell, “Fire” you do so because you want to help and save people.  So it is with Jesus.  He tells us of this fire to help us.  So that when we see and experience it in our lives we will not think things are out of control.  When the preaching of Jesus sets things on fire around us, it is as Jesus said it would be. We must not panic.  We must not cave.  We must not change the message.   Rather, we must remain faithful until we reach the perfect peace, the perfect “shalom” of heaven.  For Jesus’ sake.

Amen.