“When Good Things Bring Adversity” (Luke 12:49-53)
Isn’t a good thing supposed to bring joy, beauty, happiness, and respite from troubles? But why, instead of serving its purpose, it results in the opposite? Why do bad things happen despite the presence of good?
“I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you: No, but rather division. For from now on, there will be five in one house 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 her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Luke 12:49-53).
Isn’t a good thing supposed to bring joy, beauty, happiness, and respite from troubles? But why, instead of serving its purpose, it results in the opposite? Why do bad things happen despite the presence of good?
Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you: No, but rather division (51).
One of the fruit of the Spirit enumerated in Galatians 5:22 is peace. It is the kind of peace that only the Lord Jesus can give (John 14:27). It is the peace of God that surpasses all understanding that will guard the hearts and thoughts of every believer (Philippians 4:7).
This peace is so unique and profound that it transcends every situation a true believer finds himself in. He is not bothered by anything. His faith that God cares for him makes him feel secure. He knows God is in control. It doesn’t mean that he is carefree. Of course, he does what is appropriate and necessary in a given situation and not only those that would feed his ego and keep his foolish pride intact. He doesn’t see the need do things he is not normally inclined to do in order to save face. He does not panic, which only results in more disgraceful and foolish actions. He stays put. He is contented with His situation. He does not base his happiness on worldly possessions or achievements that the worldly mind would laud.
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! (50)
Jesus is the Prince of peace and the King who will someday return to rule the earth, together with His faithful followers. But first, He has to establish the spiritual aspect of His kingdom. He must first rule as King in the lives of those who will accept Him as Lord.
And this is what bothers Him. At the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to God the Father if He could maybe skip the part wherein He has to die for the sins of mankind. Because who in his right mind would want that, to subject himself to the torture of the public execution even if it is at the sincere invitation of those who wants to have their sins paid for? The Prince of peace who preaches peace is actually beset by fear and anxiety, as 100% human, as He anticipates His once-and-for-all sacrifice as the Lamb of God just as the Tabernacle ritual symbolized and rehearsed in advance.
In the same way, knowing Jesus in a real and life-changing way was the best thing that happened to us. Nothing can equal the joy that we felt when we accepted Him. But sadly, we will find later on that walking with God in a world ruled by Satan would not be that easy. The more we get serious about it, the more will Satan wreak havoc and upset things until we come to a point where we might regret our decision to follow Jesus.
However, the Lord Jesus has said beforehand that in this world, we will have tribulations. But we must cheer up because He has overcome the world. The good thing that we found in Jesus is supposed to bring only good things; but if adversities come, let us not be disappointed.
For from now on, there will be five in one house 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 her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (52-53).
The knowledge of the truth about God is a treasure that not everybody wants and appreciates. Truth sets us free, opens our eyes, and sharpens our spiritual discernment; but it also hurts since it identifies, confronts, and addresses the wickedness that is at the deepest core of our inner being.
An evil thing that has seemed acceptable for a long time becomes revealed for what it truly is when a good thing comes along and places itself beside it. The comparison makes the difference between the two more glaring, and this is intolerable to the evil one. When the good thing just naturally outdoes the evil, the latter will do everything it can and use everything at its disposal to thwart the progress of the good. And this is where the conflict starts: when the evil decides to attack the good even if the latter is not doing anything wrong, specifically directed at it, and is not picking a quarrel with it.
In its feverish desire to put the good out of its way, the evil will muddle the still waters, beat around the bush, complicate what is simple, and use every foul means in its playbook in order to keep imposing its stale, repugnant, and ridiculous archetypes that are simply not rock and roll.
And then the evil does what it does best: to make a scapegoat out of the good. The evil would navigate the abhorrent situation it created so that the blame falls on the good. The word of God is sweet, but it is nauseating and ear-crushing to Satan. That is why he will confuse it. That is when good things seem to bring adversity.
Satan crushes truth more effectively by turning family or people in the same league against each other. The Lord Jesus said that a kingdom against itself will crumble. That is why the divide-and-conquer tactic, no matter which way we look at it, is just simply pure evil.
Passage by Passage: Luke 12 series, episode 9
by: Marven T. Baldo
