NO PEACE:

Matthew 10:34-36 “...Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household...”

Luke 12:49-53 “...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. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They 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 mother-in-law...”

Why did Jesus come?

- to set families against one another.

What were the Jews expecting?

- a Messiah who would overthrow the current government to bring a government more to their liking, and peace.

How did the Jews misunderstand what was about to take place?

- Jesus wasn’t overthrowing governments.

- Jesus was revealing the will of His Father.

- Jesus was teaching Kingdom principles that many would reject.

- Jesus was about to offer Himself as an atonement for sin.

- Jesus wasn’t on a worldly assignment, but on a Kingdom assignment.

How did the prophet Micah accurately describe the situation?

Micah 7:4-7 “...The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come; now their confusion is at hand. Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me...”

- the situation on earth would be confusing.

- there would be danger in trusting others.

What would be needed during this time of confusion?

- not a focus on traditions, family, or friends.

- a focus on the Lord, the only means of salvation.

Does this situation only describe the days that Jesus was walking on the earth?

- this is a perfect description of our days as well.

- we can’t simply look to our traditions, our churches, our family, or our friends.

Hebrews 10:19-22 ”...Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water...”

Hebrews 12:2 “...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God...”

How was the sword an accurate depiction of what Jesus came for?

Ephesians 6:17 ”...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,...”

Hebrews 4:12 “...For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart...”

- Jesus came as Truth to a world overcome by lies.

- the Truth causes considerable violence in a world that strongly embraces untruth.

Was Jesus advocating conflict?

- His teaching was to turn the other cheek.

- He was merely describing the violence that occurs with truth and untruth meet.

Was He describing the effect, not the purpose, for His earthly visit?

- was it necessary for this to occur?

Matthew 10:37-39 “...Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it...”

Is it wrong to love fathers, mothers, sons and daughters?

- it is only wrong to love them more than Jesus.

What is the test of whether a person loves family more than Jesus?

- losing personal life to follow Him.

- self sacrifice instead of self indulgence.

What does it mean to carry one’s own cross?

- probably not simply a ‘burden or trial to bear’.

- a criminal in the Roman Empire had to participate in their own crucifixion.

- a Christian participates in putting worldly ways to death (a shameful, painful road to a dreadful execution).

Will a person follow Jesus if they don’t crucify their selfish ways?

What conflict have you encountered because of following Jesus?