12:50
But before the Jesus’ mission could be fully implemented He had to go to the cross, that is the baptism He is talking about here. The NIV talks of Him being under constraint, the ESV has Jesus being distressed. The various translations have “pressed”, “straitened”, “distressed”, so there is no agreement on the best way to translate the Greek! Jesus knew what lay before Him, the horrendous torment He would have to go through, He also knew that it was essential that He did so. The cross was the only way in which we could be justified, and was essential in order for the Holy Spirit to be sent to us. So there are ways in which “distressed” and “constrained” both fit.
12:51-53
Well this states things very clearly, not peace but division! Jesus has come to separate things out, what is of God and what is not. This division will even affect families, with division in families, and several instances are mentioned. Now we need to treat this carefully. Jesus is not giving a law here saying there must be division. At the same time it puts the kibosh on the idea that if we are good Christian parents then our children will definitely become Christians. So what is the truth? On the positive side. It is far better to bring our children up properly, and this will bear much good fruit, but all people are ultimately responsible for their own lives, and all are sinners. So it is perfectly possible that a child of a believer will choose to continue the rebellion of mankind. This does not mean we should not continue to pray for such a child, and to pray with faith. It does mean that allegiance to Christ transcends all other relationships, and division may happen anywhere.
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