THE DIVISIVE, EXCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE JESUS

LUKE 12:49-53; MATTHEW 10:37-38

“Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division…The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” —Luke 12:51; Matthew 10:37

HARD SAYINGS OF JESUS:

The real Jesus was

: you either loved him or hated him. The more attractive he grew to some, the more loathsome he became to others.

This hard saying from Jesus shows us that he was a

– polarizing – person who made

– self-centered – claims with an

– self-denying – love.

JESUS WAS A DIVISIVE – POLARIZING – PERSON:

When Jesus came to earth he claimed to be the complete revelation of the one true God. His approach made him

when compared to other religious founders.

Even though Jesus made incredible and polarizing claims, he accompanied those claims with impeccable moral

.

The division around Jesus boils down the question of

and Lordship.

WHO MADE EXCLUSIVE – SELF-CENTERED - CLAIMS:

Jesus repeatedly puts

at the center of our faith. Matthew 10:37 is one example among many.

Though not himself a self-absorbed person, Jesus regularly made

indicating his own self-importance.

Jesus demands a commitment to him that

even our most precious relationships, a commitment void of any other conditions.

WITH INCLUSIVE – SELF-DENYING - LOVE:

When Jesus uses the metaphor of fire he’s talking about the

of God.

Before coming to cleanse the world with the fire of God’s judgment, Jesus first had to

the world through the power of God’s love.

You’ll never give up

for Jesus than what he’s already given up for you.

SOME IMPORTANT – HEART-REVEALING - QUESTIONS:

Am I

Reveal Answer

of the person, work or words of Jesus?
Am I

Reveal Answer

with what’s in front of me right now?
Am I

Reveal Answer

to Jesus for the right reasons?