I came to set fire to the world
A Gospel Enquiry
I might be mistaken, but I remember using a book titled “Good Ol’ Plastic Jesus” with students last century. This Gospel reading for today is anything but plastic. It shows Jesus being passionate about his mission and warns about the division and suffering of being counter cultural. The challenge for us is to find ourselves in his description of his mission and his impact on people.
Jesus said to his disciples, “I came to set fire to the world, and I wish it were already burning! I have a baptism to suffer through, and I feel very troubled until it is over. Do you think I came to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I came to divide it. From now on, a family with five people will be 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53 - New Century Version)
SEE
What does Jesus tell us about his experience the mission he accepted from God? Where do you experience his mission as he describes it in this Gospel?
What does he tell us about his commitment to his mission? Do you also live your life in a counter cultural way?
What does Jesus tell us about the consequences of his commitment to his mission? What is the evidence of living in a counter cultural way in the world today?
JUDGE
What do you think about what Jesus says about his mission and its impact on people? How does he impact your life? What is there in your life and the lives of people you know that is challenged by Jesus?
What does your faith tell you about how to respond to Jesus? What does it tell you about how to deal with apathy or antagonism towards God’s will?
Ideally, how should people respond to Jesus’ presence in the world?
ACT
What needs to change so that the fire of Jesus’ commitment to the Father’s will consumes the world?
What simple action can you take over the next week that will contribute to bringing about this change?
Who can you involve in this action and how will you go about involving them?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: https://joyintruth.com/i-have-come-to-set-fire-on-earth/