What is the portrait of Jesus that you carry with you? If you have a moment, stop right now and either draw a quick image, or jot down a few words that would describe what Jesus is like for you in your imagination.

I wonder if it matches the guy who spoke the words from the Gospel reading this week in Luke 12:49-56, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled…do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”

Whoa! What just happened?

Isn’t this the same Gospel in which the angels appeared to the shepherds and said, “Peace on earth?”

I did a search through the Gospel of Luke for the word peace. It appears 13 times and is evenly spread through the story. It first appears in Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:79) as he draws inspiration from the prophets and says of Jesus, “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Then the declaration of the angels to the shepherds, “and on earth peace among those whom he favors (Luke 2:14).” He tells those he heals to “go in peace (Luke 7:50; 8:48).” He sends his disciples out to the villages to find a person who returns the peace to them and to stay with them (Luke 10:5-6).

Up to this point, it seems that Jesus’ ministry is about peace.

Then today happens. Luke 12:51.

We must remember that the texts we have been reading for the last few weeks occur while Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem. Each step he takes brings him closer to the stark reality that he will be executed as a rebel. He is offering peace to Jerusalem if they would only abandon their hatred and fear of the Romans and walk in the way of peace. Yet, he knows they will not. He knows that some will listen to him and some will reject him. Families will be divided over how they interpret his teaching.

Peace seems ever elusive.

Then, at the end of his journey to Jerusalem, in Luke 19:42, Jesus stops and weeps for Jerusalem, saying, “if you had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” And he goes on to describe the horrible destruction of Jerusalem that would be the consequence of their hatred and violence.

So, yes, Jesus is the “Prince of Peace,” and his message and method will never be one of violence. The irony of today’s text is that Jesus’ message of non-violence will incite division amongst families. Not everyone is ready for peace. Some people feel that the only response to injustice is to fight back with violence.

Our hope lies in the last declaration of peace in Luke 24:36. The resurrected Jesus says to his disciples, “Peace be with you.”

Oh God, give us the wisdom to follow the way of Jesus in our world today. May we be people who seek justice, righteousness, and peace in a world that seems fixated on violence.