August 30, 2016
ASLAN
Luke 12:49–59
Chase Rea
Central Truth
Jesus is so much more than mere meekness. He is a powerful, passionate, and even dangerous King with a radically worthy story!
Key Verse | Luke 12:49
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled." (Luke 12:49)
Luke 12:49–59
Not Peace, but Division
49 I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 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.”
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Settle with Your Accuser
57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.” 1 12:59 Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
Footnotes
[1] 12:59 Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)Dive Deeper | Luke 12:49–59
Am I allowed to blame Sunday school for this? Rewind 10 years, and I remember learning so much more about Jesus being The Lamb than Jesus being The Lion. I guess an 8-year-old couldn't stomach the whole truth. Nowadays, things have changed, and I've fallen in love with a Savior that Jefferson Bethke describes as "dangerous, unpredictable, radical, and amazing."
Let's make a few things clear. Jesus came humbly (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus came to save (Luke 19:10). Jesus came to show His love (Romans 5:8). Jesus came to give Himself for all (John 19:30). In doing all this, Jesus came to be followed (John 10:25-27). Is that all?
Oh wait, Lion.
In all seriousness, Jesus' story is wildly extreme. He was a man who made a whip to clear a room, flipped tables, and turned a marketplace upside down in defense of His territory (John 2). He provided food for 5,000 of His pride (John 6). He cleans the filth off of the feet of His cubs (John 13). He roars at those who prey on the runt (John 8:7). He doesn't sound very safe.
He's not.
Let's step through the wardrobe into Narnia and meet the Lion in C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair:
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I am dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I—could I—would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to—do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.
Back in the real world, we must know that following Jesus is not easy. He isn't safe, but He never intended to be. Following such a King is worth it. Let's tell others about the Lion that died for all of us.
Discussion Questions
1. Can you relate to Jill's unease at the stream? Has the prospect of a dangerous God ever caused you to hesitate in trusting Him? If yes, take some time to consider what your view of God was in that context, and what was informing that view.
2. Other than Luke 12:49 and the instances mentioned in the devotional, identify other evidence in the Gospels of Jesus being strong, powerful, and even dangerous?
3. Has following Jesus (or lack thereof) ever caused conflict in your family? Have you ever felt split against loved ones because of Christ? Meditate on Christ's words in today's passage, and think about how the life He lived and surrendered might have inherently caused division.
Want to see a depiction of the Lion? Watch this movie-version but truth-packed portrait of Aslan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZtf_kWMBDc Pumped up? Share whatever thoughts you have in the comments section!