As I work my way through John, and Gary Burge’s commentary in The NIV Application Commentary, I am struck by Burge’s notes on the alienation Jesus will create.

Jesus will ALWAYS divide. We can make our claims about “if Jesus were here he would obviously take up MY view and thus all sides would have to agree with me,” but in reality… it’s just not true.

Jesus has always divided. Sometimes the Church takes the extra pains to divide much farther, and falsely, but overall we need to realize that if Jesus were right here right now and we trying to drill him down on our favorite hobby horses… we would still be a house divided. 

We would expect civil debate, but John shows the debate in Jesus’ day was not always civil. They were bitterly divided. And some were just plain intimidated.

So, when you’re just about ready to make your bold declaration that “Jesus just wouldn’t make this a big issue,” or, “Jesus is on my side, so you just better give it up,” just pause… and then resist the temptation to take that road.

Jesus WILL divide. He demands 100 percent allegiance to HIS Kingdom… and we ALL have issues with that at some point in our lives. Our issues aren’t with each other nearly as much as they are with allegiance to his Kingdom. When we pray HIS Kingdom come, HIS will be done… we need to realize he really means it.

Even if we don’t.