Luke 12:49-53
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke Sunday, August 17, 2025
“Persevere in the Paradox of Christ’s Peace”
Have you ever heard it suggested that the Bible is full of contradictions? Sometimes people claim that we can’t trust what the Bible says because it says so many different things that don’t fit together. In my experience, people making that claim haven’t actually read or studied the Bible. They have just heard the accusation leveled against it and repeat what they have heard. I am quite confident to speak with people about what they think might be contradictions in the Bible and help them see the Bible actually fits together amazingly well. We can look at even challenging passages and think about them in the context of a chapter and a book and a testament and see how God tells us in his Word important truths that do not contradict each other.
One example is the passage in front of us today. We hear Jesus say, “Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No.” And something about it just doesn’t seem quite right. Isn’t peace exactly what Jesus came to bring? Didn’t the angels at the time of his birth sing “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth”? Didn’t Jesus at another time tell his disciples that when he ascended he would leave his peace with them? Didn’t he greet those disciples on Easter Sunday by saying, “Peace be with you”? And we’re not surprised by any of that because already in the Old Testament God had prophesied peace. He said “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53:5) and foretold the Messiah would be called “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
These passages do not contradict each other, but they do present a paradox. At first glance, they might seem to say different things, but the point and the goal is that we would think deeply about the issue to better understand the whole picture and come away with a better understanding of the truth.
The words of our Gospel from Luke 12 are all words of Jesus which he spoke as he made his way toward Jerusalem. Luke records for us many of the things that Jesus taught and did as he and his disciples made that journey. As he taught, he explained that he was headed to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again. He also warned against greed and worry. He taught his disciples to be prepared, and he spoke these words about baptism and fire and division.
Jesus refers to what he will experience in Jerusalem, his suffering and death, as a baptism he will undergo. The wrath of God over sin will be poured out on him. He eagerly wishes for that painful punishment to be completed. He wishes that all was done, including the fire that would come out of this baptism. The fire that would come out of the work of Jesus would purify like the fire that removes impurities from metals. It would show up in painful ways. It would be what Jesus goes on to describe in these words: it would bring division even to close relationships.
Jesus describes the division as three in a household divided against two and vice versa: father against son, mother against daughter, and so on. These were close family relationships within a relatively small household. What would bring them to a division like this? What would set them against each other? It would be how some heard the message of salvation in Jesus and received it with faith. They believed and their lives were changed. They knew that their sins were forgiven and they would live out of love for their Savior. And others would not. They would reject the message. They would refuse to change from sinful ways. They would oppose the believers and oppose the ways their lives had changed in faith. This sort of division would come out of the work of Jesus. He did not bring peace on earth.
Why is it so important for Jesus to share this message with his disciples? It’s not easy to hear. This is not a pleasant concept to think about. It is painful and difficult and challenging. But it’s also reality. This is what happens. No, not every household is divided, but many are. You as a Christian can expect to experience division. You can expect opposition. There is a fire that has been kindled. This is the reality of life in this world.
There are also many people, including many who claim to be Christians, who think that the reality should be different. They think that Christianity should mean peace on earth. They think that what Christianity has to offer people is a life of comfort and happiness. They think that having peace from Jesus would mean that everyone can get along. And those ideas are attractive. Wouldn’t it be great if Christianity informed us about our voting decisions in a way that we could end up with a stable and successful society and a booming economy? Some people think that. Wouldn’t Christianity be wonderful if it meant that I can just be whoever I want to be because that’s the way that God made me? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christianity meant that all my relationships would be blessed, family and friends, with good times and good feelings? Peace like that sounds good. That’s the sort of peace everyone can agree on. That sort of peace brings a better world and a happier life and an easier time of things. When Jesus asks his disciples if they think he came to bring peace on earth—he’s talking about the sort of peace that earthly people relate to. They can find peace in happy relationships and stable lives. They can go on doing whatever they want to do and let others just keep on doing whatever they want to do.
Let’s embrace the paradox and say of course Jesus brings peace, just a different kind of peace. The peace that Jesus really brings is peace with God. It is a spiritual peace. It is knowing that he has taken away our sins. He was baptized by God’s wrath so that I don’t need to be. Jesus undid the division that existed between us sinners and a holy God. We couldn’t do it. Our best efforts always fell way too short. Our best intentions were never good enough. It’s not even true that Jesus made peace possible as though we still have to do some part. The true peace that Jesus came to provide is his gift to us, absolutely free of cost.
That free gift leads us to respond. It calls us to live thankful lives. It calls us to rejoice in the gift and to celebrate it with lives of loving service. And yet, somehow, this is the very thing that brings us into conflict with those who reject the true peace that Jesus gives to us.
This can divide homes. Some within a household understand the value of being at church in the Word and receiving the sacrament with fellow believers. Others want to just sleep in and don’t see why this would be so important to people. Sometimes we need to face the challenges of that division and express our concerns to people. We may even need to point out a sin that is separating someone from their relationship with God. If we were only focused on worldly peace, we would never bring it up. We would never say anything. We wouldn’t risk a fight or an argument or a strain on the relationship. But if all we are concerned about is earthly peace, we miss out on what Jesus really gives us: true spiritual peace. Peace with God that lasts forever. Peace with God that we will fully experience with him in eternity.
Jesus alerts us, just as he did his disciples, to encourage us to persevere. No, division does not sound good. It is not our goal, but it is a real result of God’s Word going out into the world. God’s Word divides. Don’t settle for anything less because it somehow feels or seems more peaceful. It’s not. Only Jesus and his baptism under God’s wrath on the cross gives us what we truly need, the ultimate peace.
This is a hard saying of Jesus. Like everything he says to us, our sinful natures rebel against it. But it is not a contradiction. Jesus came to bring the best peace of all. He did not come to bring peace on earth the way worldly people think of peace. No, it is not a contradiction, but it is a paradox. It calls on us to think carefully and deeply. And it calls us to persevere in the truth that Jesus has given us. God’s Word may divide in ways that are painful to us. But it is worth it, because we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
The Text: Luke 12:49–53 (EHV)
49“I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. 53They will be divided: father 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.”