Sometimes, Jesus says something so outlandish we don’t know how to take it. Is He using hyperbole? Is He speaking plainly? Are we to take Him literally? Or is He speaking in a parable? It is a challenge. The good news is, there are scholars who know the original language to help us out.
In today’s passage, Jesus is speaking both literally and parabolically. Let’s take the parabolical statement first. When He says He has a baptism to undertake, we all can likely understand that He was talking about His crucifixion. He had a horrible path ahead of Him while walking in the flesh.
The second part of the baptism sentence states Jesus is constrained until it is completed. It could be translated to say He is pressed until it is completed. The meaning is He is singularly focused on it. We might say today, He is laser focused. The point being, Jesus knew what His mission was and there was nothing that would stop Him from accomplishing it.
Now, let’s go back and visit that first sentence. Jesus says He came to cast fire upon the earth. In one respect, He did while He walked the earth. He started the fire of Christianity that would spread around the world. He also sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a fire. John Wesley’s heart was strangely warmed by the Holy Spirit and our can be, too.
Yet, there is a fire to come that will destroy this earth. 1 Peter 3:10 tells us the earth will be destroyed by fire and the heavens will pass away. Three verses later, Peter says we wait for the new heavens and new earth. Revelation 21:1 tells us there is a new heaven and a new earth because the first ones had passed away. Jesus is the one who will bring all this to pass when the Father says it is time.
I pray we all know this earth and everything in it will pass away. I pray we know that Jesus has already started the fire. I pray each one of us looks forward to the new heavens and new earth. This earth will pass away. Jesus started the fire. Jesus will return. Look forward to the new heavens and new earth.
Luke 12:49-50 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!”
Marty Pressey 