The words above – from Jesus to his closest disciples – need some thought. “Fire”, although fearsome, speaks of total cleansing from corruption and harm – speaks of purification from dross. This was to be “upon the earth” and Jesus wanted it. A righteous human world.
But, associated with that, was his own “baptism to be baptised” with. He wanted that – his death on the cross, to be “accomplished." Once “accomplished”, it would be the answer for those, seeing the “fire” and being in it, were thirsting for righteousness. He would take their place.
“You think that I have come to be near to give peace on the earth. No, I state to you, but instead division. Because from now it will be five in one house divided three over two and two over three. They will be divided, father over son and son over father, mother over daughter and daughter over the mother, mother-in-law over her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law over the mother-in-law.”
In the centuries from around BC 400 to AD 30, the Israelites were longing for their promised Messiah to come and rescue them from their enemies. He would bring “peace on the earth”, the overcoming of the Roman Empire, the establishment of Israel with hegemonic power. Not so, Jesus said. Instead “division” between individuals – regarding himself.
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But he also stated to the crowds, “Whenever you may see a cloud arising over the west, you state immediately that, ‘A rain-storm is coming.’ And so it comes to be. And, when you a south wind is blowing, you state that ‘It will be burning heat,’ and it comes to be. Play-actors. You have known to evaluate the face of the earth and the heaven, but you have not known how to evaluate this very time?”
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Jesus turned to the crowd. He asks them to “evaluate” what was there - his life, miracles and teaching.
“But also, why do you not judge for your own selves what is righteous? Because when you go away behind your accuser in front of the ruler, give effort on the way to be free from him, so that he may not drag you down to the judge, and the judge will give you over to the executive, and the executive will cast you into prison. I state to you, you will never come out until also you have given back the last coin.”
Each individual person in the crowd is asked also to “judge” his or her own self. If a righteous “accuser” were to take you before the powers-that-be would it not be wise to “give effort on the way to be free from” him? If one is guilty and unrighteous it makes sense to do a deal with a righteous “accuser.”
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But some were present at that very time telling him about the Galileans, the blood of whom Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. And, responding, he said to them, “You think that these Galileans became sinful beside all the Galileans, in that they suffered like that. No, I state to you; instead, if you do not change minds, you will all likewise be destroyed. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: you think that they became debtors beside all the others who lived in Jerusalem. No, I state to you; instead, if you do not change minds, you will all likewise be destroyed.”
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These were tough words for those in the crowd. The “fire” against sin and unrighteousness was no respecter of persons. That “fire” was either there upon them now - or would come sooner or later. From the “accuser”?
Jesus said these words twice to the crowd. “If you do not change minds, you will all likewise be destroyed.” “If you do not change minds, you will all likewise be destroyed.”
I’m sure they heard the words. In the case of those murdered by the Roman governor of the time, they had not become “sinful beside all the Galileans.” In the case of those killed by the collapsed tower, they had not become “debtors beside all the others who lived in Jerusalem.” “Sinful”? “Debtors”? We sin against God. I owe God for all I am.
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