August 17, 2025 Luke 12: 49-53 ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing? We, in our only time in history, are witnessing and living in a blazing world, and it is hardly something any one of us would wish for. Bombings and explosions in war torn countries, lightning strikes, arson, acres and acres of forest fires raging in mountains, coastal lands and people perishing in blazes along with their homes and possessions, leaving only their memories. What prompted Jesus to wish the earth to be blazing? Was he exasperated? Was he fed up with the inability of people to listen to his message? Jesus goes on to say that he has come on the earth NOT to establish peace but rather division. It is not difficult to see that is exactly what is happening now. But is this the dream of Jesus? Are the heavens rejoicing when hate, suspicion, the misuse of power, retaliation and revenge, lies and deceit are the themes of the day? Is this the blaze that Jesus lived and died for? I suggest that the blaze that Jesus referenced was the ‘fire in his belly’, the […]