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What will I?
What does this verse mean?
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Luke 12:49
What does Jesus mean when He says, "What will I"?
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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Jesus' teachings and sayings often comfort the disturbed. Here, they are meant to disturb the comfortable.
As the passage (Luke 12:49-53) opens, Jesus says, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it was already kindled! Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell, but rather division in every household!"
What do you think was the reaction of the crowd to these words of Jesus? Do you think they were startled and greatly disturbed, maybe even sensing that the apocalypse or end time is near? What do they mean for us living today?
In Luke Chapter 12, Jesus, addressing his disciples and thousands that have gathered to hear him, issues dire warnings and predictions. He's aware that his message about God's kingdom has brought him into sharp conflict with the religious authorities and government. He knows that he has much to do and so very little time remaining because he knows that his life will soon be ended. And so, with great urgency, he raises existential questions and crucial choices that people must make, about choosing whose side they're on, mincing no words in the process.
It calls to mind the words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah: "is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29), and the "baptism by fire" that John the Baptist said was coming in Luke 3:16. C.S. Lewis vividly described Christ's love as "love as fierce as fire."
The Gospel, or Good News, of Jesus Christ can be compared figuratively to a fire because of its incredible trans-formative power. Fire refers both to the judgment we face if we reject God and the rebirth we experience if we accept him. Wild fires, for example, carry with them incredible power of "creative destruction," removing everything in their paths, and purifying things so that new growth can emerge. Fire leads to destruction, but "baptism by fire" leads to new life. For more on this, refer to the entry for "pur," the Greek word for fire in verse 49, in Strong's Concordance.
Jesus is calling on us to make a choice to love, serve and follow him. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:17,18).
Jesus makes its clear that the choice we make has consequences. Neutrality isn't an option. As he says in Matthew 12:30, "whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." If we accept him, it may separate us from friends, family and the culture. Being his disciples often means conflict with those that that are closest to us. If we reject him, we face eternal damnation. This is still being played out today.
But this division and conflict--indeed the death, sin and suffering of this world--will eventually come to an end, according to God's plan, when Christ comes again. Then, God will create a new Heaven and a new Earth, restored to perfection, and he will dwell with us, as we read in John's prophecy in Revelation 21.
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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on
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Hi Michelle,
Colby, Good word.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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It was a great word Colby but I'm not sure that it answered her question of "What will I?" If you did explain it, could you restate it like you are talking to a 4-year old? Thanks
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Same here. I understand everything around those 3 words but I don't understand those 3 words. As far as lack of brains, I can't speak for you but I know I'm lacking there.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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Perhaps looking at parallel translations will help us understand.
New International Version (©1984)
"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
New Living Translation (©2007)
"I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!English Standard Version (©2001)
“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
"I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!International Standard Version (©2012)
"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“I have come to set fire to the earth, and I only wish it were already burning.”GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started!King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I am come to send fire on the earth; and would that it were already kindled?American King James Version
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?American Standard Version
I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?Douay-Rheims Bible
I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?Darby Bible Translation
I have come to cast a fire on the earth; and what will I if already it has been kindled?English Revised Version
I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what will I, if it is already kindled?Webster's Bible Translation
I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I, if it is already kindled?Weymouth New Testament
"I came to throw fire upon the earth, and what is my desire? Oh that it were even now kindled!World English Bible
"I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.Young's Literal Translation
'Fire I came to cast to the earth, and what will I if already it was kindled?http://bible.cc/luke/12-49.htm
There is commentary on it at the link, too.
My NKJV study bible says in its footnotes that "Though Jesus was ready for the judgment of humankind, other things had to happen first."
MY NIV study bible doesn't have a footnote for verse 49.
What I see is that Jesus, by His own will (not being forced) was ready even at that very moment to die for us and nothing was going to stop Him.
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Hey Michelle,
What she said. (Amanda).
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