On hearing [Jesus’] words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Christ.” Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus, the people were divided because of Jesus. (Jonn 7:40–43, NIV 1984).
My Musings – And the “people [are still] divided because of Jesus.” He said it would be so. “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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 12:51–53, NIV 1984).
This is not something He wanted, but something He expected. For He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV 1984). Yet when some accept while others reject, there is unavoidable division. Because this is serious business. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37–38, NIV 1984). The irony is that once that commitment to Christ is made, the love for others is elevated to a level that is not possible without Christ.
Another irony is that the unavoidable division can in fact be avoided. In the above text, the people who questioned, “that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived,” were absolutely right. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2, NIV 1984). A question begs an answer. But they had not taken the trouble to investigate further. Had they done so, they would have discovered the truth.
My Advice – “[The prophets] spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Peter 1:12, NIV 1984). We should have the same longing that the angels have “to look into these things.“
The Brew Is A Musing 