Pastor Scott Andrews | December 14, 2025
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Luke 12:49-53
Every year this time of the year, with the somewhat distracting Christmas trees and Christmas lights, silver bells and jingle bells, candy canes and sleigh rides, yuletide carols being sung by a choir or at least over the PA in Walmart, stockings hung by the chimney with care and presents wrapped under the tree, it’s easy to lose sight – but churches and even some Christian families break out the Advent Wreath to light candles to be reminded and celebrate the coming of Christ. Now, it is legitimate to ask, which coming, and the answer is, of course, both. Yes, most focus on the first coming of Christ, the Son of God Himself, in the incarnation taking on flesh in the birth of Jesus to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in a manger. But yes, the celebration of advent is also meant to focus our attention on the Second Coming of Christ as believers look forward with anticipation to His return. The Bible Project helpfully defines Advent this way:
“The Advent season is a four-week period in the Christian calendar that prepares people for Jesus Christ’s birth at Christmas, while also pointing ahead to his promised return. Each Sunday of the season traditionally spotlights a key theme—like hope, peace, joy, or love—to invite reflection, prayer, and expectant celebration.”
So, we see attention given to both comings, but again, the focus at Christmas is typically on the first advent of Christ. And those candles around the Advent Wreath are correctly defined to represent the four Sundays of advent leading to Christmas Eve with the Christ Candle at the center. Those four encircling candles represent, in order, hope, peace, joy, and love. Our typical Christmas carols highlight all those themes, but this morning, I’d like to focus on the second Sunday of Advent which was actually last week with its focus on peace. Consider these familiar Christmas songs in your Spotify playlists:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
In O Holy Night, the third verse starts with these words, “Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.” Meaningful words.
Not quite as familiar is verse 7 of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, when we sing:
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease,
and be yourself our King of Peace.
In a new Christmas hymn, O Come All You Unfaithful, we sing these really good words:
He’s the Lamb who was given,
Slain for our pardon.
His promise is peace
For those who believe.
Another, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
One more, because we can’t leave out Silent Night:
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Even the babe born in Bethlehem, in a manger with nearby drummer boy and cattle lowing, is bid to sleep in all that commotion in heavenly peace.
Sing We the Song of Emmanuel sings of joy and peace for the weary heart; O Little Town of Bethlehem recites, praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear the angels are bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold, singing, “peace on earth, goodwill to men from heaven’s all-gracious King.” Why, even Handel’s Messiah in part 1, For Unto Us a Child is Born, sings forcefully of the Prince of Peace.
And it’s appropriate we sing those songs, because isn’t that the promise of Scripture – especially with the birth of Jesus Christ? Isaiah 9 says, “For unto us a child is born, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
And it is true, on the night Jesus was born, a heavenly host of angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When Jesus was getting ready to leave and return to heaven, He told His disciples, “My peace I leave with you…these things I have spoken so that in Me, you might have peace.” Paul would later write these words in Romans 5, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and these words in Ephesians 2, “For He [that is, Jesus] Himself is our Peace.”
Clearly, Jesus came on that first Christmas to bring peace, right? Well, let’s read our text in Luke 12:49-53.
Someone is clearly confused. Whatever happened to peace on earth, goodwill to men? Did the angels get it wrong? We either have two conflicting Jesuses, or two kinds of peace – further, two kinds of people – one group which knows peace, and one which does not. You see, it’s clear the peace He brought also brings division.
We are at a major section of the book of Luke – extending from chapter 9 to chapter 19. It’s the last six months of Jesus life. He and His disciples are headed to Jerusalem for the last time. The shadow of the cross is rising, and with each passing week, even day, it is looming larger across the horizon. It is clear from this passage and others that Jesus knew what awaited Him. He told them clearly up in Caesarea Philippi they were going to Jerusalem where He would be handed over to the elders, chief priests and scribes – the religious establishment who would mistreat Him, beat Him, and hand Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Now, it’s weeks later, and He reminds them why He has come. And it is for peace, but it is not universal peace. There are two reasons for His coming in this text, which form our outline:
I. He Had Come to Cast Fire on the Earth – but that required a distressing baptism He must first undergo. (49-50)
II. He Had [also] Come to Bring Division on the Earth (51-53)
This just blows up the Christmas narrative – or does it? Yes, Jesus did come to bring peace – but not the kind of peace most mistakenly seek. It isn’t from a baby in a manger when everyone pretends to get along for a bit – it is a peace that only comes through the cross – the work of Christ. And again, it is not universal, but only for those who believe. Starting with the first purpose of His coming. These words, “I have come” are used throughout the NT to speak of the purpose for which Jesus came. He says it several times – and they are quite encouraging:
• Matthew 5:17 – Do not think I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. We desperately needed somebody – and there is only One – to come and do what we could not – fulfill the Law, and then die for those who broke it.
• Matthew 9:13 – the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
• Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Do you see it – the purpose jumps of the pages.
• Luke 5:32 – I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
• Luke 19:10 – For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
• John 3:17 – For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world [not the first time], but that the world might be saved through Him.
• John 6:38 – For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. Hallelujah.
• John 10:10 – I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
• John 12:46 – I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
• John 18:37 – for this reason I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. I am the way and the truth.
Jesus clearly states His purpose in coming – and we like it, as recipients of His grace. But here, Jesus says I have come to cast fire upon the earth. A few verses later, and in Matthew 10, He says I have not come to bring peace on earth, but division – in Matthew, He says a sword – an instrument to divide. This purpose clearly has a different intent. I know it’s less than two weeks before Christmas, and we would prefer to focus on the baby – but this is the next text – and Jesus tells us why He came.
What is this fire He came to cast on the earth? Some suggest it is referring to Jesus coming to baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit – so they suggest it is Spirit baptism. Some suggest fire refers to the fire of the Holy Spirit that came on the Day of Pentecost in a very few short months. But most agree, I believe rightly, that He came to bring the fire of judgment – of division – dividing all of humanity in two. In John 9:39, Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world.” Now, it is possible that this fire has a two-fold purpose – to purify those who believe, and to judge those who have not. But don’t miss it – this fire produces two people. As we’ll see in a moment, His coming was not in this text to bring peace, but division. Which means, some will be purified by sanctifying fire, some will experience the fires of judgment.
You see, in this context, most agree this casting fire on the earth has to do with judgment. What is the nature of that judgment? It is simply to identify those who have believed and contrast them with those who have not. It is a judgment of division – those who believe, and those who don’t. Now notice – how I wish this fire was already kindled, but it awaits something.
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished. There is so much here in that one sentence. The word accomplished (aorist passive) is the same word Jesus uttered from the cross – It is finished (perfect passive) – accomplished. The word baptism literally means to be immersed in something – and this case, Jesus is referring to His coming death.
Think of it – when we are baptized, Romans 6 tells us we are buried – immersed with Him in symbolic death – raised in newness of life – the old man dead, the new man alive. But Jesus’ baptism, here, pointed to His coming death, and this was not just any death – this was a death for sinners, while bearing their sins upon the cross, and enduring the wrath of God against sin. This is the meaning of propitiation – to avert divine wrath by substitutionary atonement, thus appeasing the wrath of God. Satisfying the divine demands of justice.
Understand, as challenging as the events of Passion Week will be – culminating in a cruel death – one of the most horrifying of all deaths invented by humankind – reserved for the worst of criminals. After flogging, being nailed to a cross and left for days to die, experiencing excruciating pain and agony, the crucified finally, mercifully breathes his last. But the most challenging aspect of this death – the death of Christ – was experiencing the wrath of God against the sins of the world that He bore on the cross.
It’s why He said, how distressed I am until it is accomplished. It is why in the Garden of Gethsemane, He will pray, sweating drops of blood Luke alone tells us, Lord, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Hebrews 5 says, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death.” In the garden, as He contemplated His own death, now hours away, while resolved to go the cross, He did so with horror. Here, weeks away, He says, how distressed I am until it is accomplished! The word distressed speaks of deep, emotional, inner agony. We will never know the likes of it.
And that death will bring division, bringing us to our second point in verses 51-53. Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on the earth? If I asked the man on the street, especially this time of the year – or even the average person in the church, the words of the Christmas songs would flood to our minds, and we would answer yes. But Jesus does not answer that way. I tell you, no, but rather division. What does He mean? Simply this – for those who believe, he or she will no longer walk in darkness, but will have peace – peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been reconciled to God. He did come to bring peace – first with God, then with other believers.
But, the cross is foolishness to those who have not believed. And it will divide even the closest and most meaningful of all human relationships – within our own families. A family of five will potentially be divided – two against three, three against two. The division will come because of faith – because of the cross.
And yes, I know that some of you have faced the painful reality of this truth. Children who have walked away and scoff at your faith in a dead man – we know as the God-man – crucified on a cross, yes, but risen from the dead. It has separated some of you from children, from parents, from siblings. It is painful – and yet Jesus says here the gospel would divide.
Does that mean that we don’t love those lost family members? Of course not – of course we love them. But our ultimate desire is to see them born again – saved – reconciled to God – brought into the family of God. And you understand, we do not, we will not sacrifice anything of Christ and His demands on our lives to meet family expectations. Christ is always and always will be first.
You see, there is a cost to following Jesus, and He wants us to know the cost. And that cost may be family. Yes, Jesus did come to bring peace – a peace that passes all understanding. But that peace comes in our relationship with God – with whom we were enemies. He came to destroy the works of the devil, to redeem us, to buy us back. And we can know peace, real peace, with God, and with other believers. But don’t think for a minute that that means peace with everyone. It’s not universal. The opposite is actually true. You claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and you will be opposed – even potentially by family.
And so I say to you, there must be a willingness to sacrifice relationships – even those relationships we consider to be closest. We must be willing to sacrifice our relationships with family members – moms, dads, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters. This is what Jesus means when He says if you are not willing to hate family, you are not worthy of Me.
Jesus demands total surrender. He wants us to give everything to Him. And not everyone will understand that. Again, family members will sometimes oppose our commitment to Christ. Remember the context here – we are in the last weeks of Jesus’ life. Jesus, the Christ has come. We celebrate His first coming at Christmas, but are we prepared for second advent.
Listen, His message even flies in the face of the religious establishment. In the end, they crucify Him. There will remain only a handful of followers. Family members who cried out, “Crucify Him!” will oppose brothers, sisters, moms, dads, sons, daughters, who choose to become followers of this so-called Christ. But, Jesus says, if you choose to become a follower, no matter what the cost, no matter what the sacrifice, no matter who opposes you, you still follow. Again, in that sense, Matthew says He came carrying a sword, to divide families. Our commitment to Christ is to take precedent over every other relationship.
What does that look like for us? Let me tell you what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that when we come to faith in Christ, we forsake our families – that we say to them, I don’t have time for you anymore. The division Jesus speaks about here is brought on not by us, but by them. They radically oppose our decision to follow Christ. They might threaten to leave you if your life is changed. So be it. They might choose to disinherit you, children. So be it. They might choose to ridicule, ostracize, and actively oppose you. So be it. Our allegiance is to Christ. It is in that way He does not bring peace, but division. We choose to follow Christ, no matter the sacrifice. Even if mom doesn’t like it. Even if it makes Dad angry. Even if it separates husbands from wives, parents from children.
Many of you know John Bunyan as the man who wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. What you may not know is that he was thrown in jail in Bedford, England, for preaching the gospel. He was ordered not to preach the gospel. He knew he would be thrown in jail for doing so. And he knew it would leave his family destitute if he did. Listen to the words he wrote from his cell:
“The parting with my wife and poor children hath often been to me in this place as the pulling of the flesh from my bones…because I would have often brought to my mind the many hardships, miseries, and want that my poor family was like to meet with, should I be taken from them, especially my poor blind child, who lay nearer my heart than all I have besides. Oh, the thought of the hardship I thought my blind one might go under would break my heart to pieces…. But yet, recalling myself, thought I, I must venture all with God, though it goeth to the quick to leave you. Oh, I saw in the condition, I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the head of his wife and children; yet thought I, I must do it. I must do it.”
When we first read that, we think, how could he? How could he leave his wife and children, a blind child among them? Because, he felt a compulsion to preach the gospel, and that gospel divides. His commitment to Christ would not waver. No matter the cost. As difficult as that sounds, I want you to remember, we must love and obey Christ, no matter the cost. Because it is true – He has brought us eternal peace.