vs 49 - 59
So we have this image of Jesus. I remember a song from Sunday School (actually, it’s sufficiently long ago that I can remember singing it but no more than the first line!) – “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.”
Yeah, well, this “Gentle Jesus” is being so meek and mild that he describes what he has come to do as “to turn three against two, and two against three . . father against son, and son against father. . .”
Why is it someone who is so well known for being the good guy is saying something so seemingly harsh?
Well, it’s pretty simple. Jesus us making no bones about it; this world is completely and utterly broken, and He’s here to fix it. Not to fluff around. Sorry if that offends you but sometimes the truth does. Don’t like it? Get over it.
Let’s make it clear. It’s not like He delights in that sort of conflict. Far from it. In fact in some places in the Bible Jesus is in fact the influence who settles a conflict. But Jesus is above all else realistic, and if others might be fooled into thinking that everyone is going to hear Jesus’ message, slap their palm to their head and say “Of course! You’re right!”, Jesus is not. He knows that his message will be very unpopular in some quarters, and He’s telling His disciples to be ready.
This leads to one of those awkward questions – If we’re not facing opposition, could that mean we’re not doing anything useful for God?
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