Alistair Begg
February 9, 2001
9:30 am
Jesus and the Question of Division
Message Summary
Sometimes Jesus' words seem perplexingly difficult to comprehend. These hard words cause us to recoil. However, Alistair Begg tackled Jesus' hard words, delving into His claim that He had come not to cause peace, but division.
Having delineated this claim, Begg noted why many contemporary Americans find immense difficulty therein. First, since our environment dislikes dogmatism, we become doubtful about truth. Secondly, current culture shows an unwillingness to speak negatively. Thus, unwritten rules dictate that while people may reservedly speak out on behalf of their individual beliefs, they must not oppose what others believe. Finally, the manner in which we've grown accustomed to Christianity being proclaimed affects our reaction.
Begg posited that Jesus would say, "At your most intimate relationships, if you get serious about me, I'll turn your life upside down and your family life upside down." Jesus responded to Zacchaeus by forcing him to make life-altering decisions. At the Samaritan well, he focuses on the woman's main problem, not deflecting that issue. Begg queried, "You want to tell me that the call of Jesus on a life is not radical? When self-interest die for Jesus' sake and is replaced with loyalty, that is life-changing."
When one's life becomes transformed in this vein, it so consumes them that it changes their direction, values and focus. Inevitably, this leads to a clash even with those nearest and dearest to these new converts. And these clashes, according to Begg, constitute the division of which Jesus spoke. He ended with a challenge to examine the basis of our unity and make sure that it comes from being one in Christ.
Student Response
Jesus promises not total happiness, but hope and fulfillment. Sometimes following him requires radical commitment and life-changing alteration in my life. Change, though, hits close to home. It affects those with whom I interact on a daily basis. And they should be noticing something different about me. Sometimes, though, those around me may dislike an incredibly open passion for Jesus. Passion, however, never dims in the face of opposition. Godly passion stands firm, while simultaneously loving its detractors. And that becomes my challenge: to cultivate a godly passion that impacts, encourages and exhorts those in my sphere of influence.
—Dale Harris, Junior, Pastoral Studies major