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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Yesterday's article began with these words: “The Love of the Truth sometimes demands division!” Today we will expand those thoughts.
We will begin these thoughts by citing four passages that have to do with Jesus and division (all words in bold are for my emphasis; jb). Jesus said, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” (Luke 12.51). In Jerusalem at one of the feasts, Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John commented on the results of His appearance by saying, “So there was a division among the people because of Him. (John 7.37,43). On another occasion, Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath. Because of the ensuing uproar, “...some of the Pharisees said, 'This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.' Others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?' And there was a division among them.” (John 9.16).
As a final illustration of Jesus' effects upon His hearers, one additional passage is cited. “'Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.' Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, 'He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?' Others said, 'These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'” (John 10:17-21).
Jesus said He would cause division. Three times John explicitly said He did just that. Just so this lesson soaks in, the reader is reminded that Jesus was and is the absolute epitome of one who possesses The Love of the Truth. To go back even a bit further, Jesus declared Himself to be the truth (see John 14.6). How is it that the man who epitomized the love of the truth and who was the very embodiment of truth, caused division? Why could He not conduct Himself in such a manner so as to satisfy most if not all of His hearers.
The simple truth is this: When the gospel messenger loves the truth supremely and when The Love of the Truth reigns in his heart, division will inevitably and eventually occur. Even if there were no passage which teaches this explicitly, we could know implicitly that this is the case! If the truth does not have that effect when proclaimed, even when proclaimed with love, then why did it cause division when Jesus preached it? Was it because He didn't do it right? Or, maybe He failed to have adequate empathy with His hearers in order for the truth not to be offensive to some? Every Bible-believer knows that such suggestions are ludicrous! If any person at any time and in any place could have preached the truth without causing division, Jesus was that person!
The Love of the Truth does not soften its blow upon the hearer, it just gives the proclaimer the strength, fortitude, and patience to continue! Jesus epitomized each of these attributes and is our perfect example in preaching, teaching, and evangelism!
Questions:
1. How many times did John explicitly say that Jesus caused division?
2. Is it wrong to cause division? Why or why not?
3. Think about this one before you answer. Is unity a commandment?
4. In what ways is Jesus our perfect example as a teacher and preacher? In what ways is He not our perfect example when it comes to preaching and teaching?
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