Luke 12:49-53 49“I came to cast fire on the earth, and I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52For there will be from now on five in one house divided, three against two and two against three. 53there will be divided a 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 mother-in-law.”
Jesus continues teaching his disciples in this section. The topic shifts to focus on his mission and reason for coming to the earth. The link of this passage to the previous ones is the idea of Jesus coming. I came shifts the focus to his first coming and has the doctrine of the Incarnation behind it. Fire is the first word in the Greek sentence, which makes it stand out for emphasis. Fire represents judgment and recalls the baptism of fire predicted by John the Baptist in 3:16-17. The time of this judgment is not clear, whether it was during Jesus’ first coming or second. The end of verse 49 suggests that the fire would come in the future. His ministry would begin the refining process that would separate those in the kingdom from those outside. The fundamental and crucial choice people must make is what to do about Jesus: to believe or not believe, which also means to ignore.
Verse 49 also implies that Jesus wished his mission could be completed. However, he also realized that his mission would require his life. He compares his sacrifice with baptism. Baptism in verse 50 has the connotation of being immersed figuratively with the sense of being overwhelmed and covered over to the point of great suffering (Mark 10:38-39). Like fire of verse 49, baptism comes in emphatic position in the sentence, grabbing the reader’s attention and preparing for what will follow. Knowing what lay ahead caused Jesus distress (synechomai) or pressure, like being squeezed from all sides. This word could be an implied reference to his humanity and the realization that pain and sorrow were coming in the future.
Jesus’ ministry would separate those who repented and believed from those who hardened their hearts. The person and message of Jesus divides people because some will believe and others will refuse. In other passages, Jesus or the Gospel writers describe how the darkness does not like the light (John 3:19; 8:12). Jesus came to bring peace on earth (1:79; 2:14), but that peace is only available to those who believe. The gospel divides people because many would rather follow the world’s values and the ways of sin and the flesh. Verse 53 shows the extent of the division. This verse appears to be a reflection on and fulfillment of Micah 7:6.
What one decides about Jesus in this life has eternal consequences. To be separated even from family, those closest to us, can be the most difficult thing, especially in collective and honor/shame cultures. These verses are a call to evaluation our highest priorities. Family is important, but there is something even more important. It may seem like we are on the losing side because of persecution (verses 4-9), but we must look at our lives from the perspective of eternity.
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