Jesus States, "My Kingdom Is Not Of This World"- Part 1431

Jesus asked, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)

In today's world, water baptism has become a contentious subject. For some, baptism is only a "ritual" associated with religious culture and the traditions of men. For others, it remains preferable to stand on the shores as an observer -- as it were in the days of John the baptist. Of course, neither of these opinions align with the scriptures, which tell us that we need to both repent AND be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47)

As Jesus so aptly told Nicodemus, ye need to be born of the water AND the Spirit. (John 3:5-8)

As believers who have repented of our sin, we need to be buried with Jesus Christ into His death in water baptism. Not sprinkled at birth but buried. "Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:36-47))

So, what is Jesus saying here in Luke 12:50? For context, let's start at the beginning of the chapter. Note that herein, there was an "innumerable multitude" of people (almost to the point of trampling) trying to listen to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were in attendance too, trying to urge Jesus vehemently hoping to provoke Him to speak many things so that they could catch Him saying something (and indeed, anything) out of His mouth that they might accuse Him. (Luke 11:53-54)

Jesus begins by saying, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear Him which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, "Fear Him." (Luke 12:1-5)

Jesus continues the dialogue, sharing how precious we are in His sight, in that even the very hairs of our head are numbered. That we are MORE precious than the five sparrows sold for two farthings which even so, are not forgotten before God. Thus, as Jesus asks, "how much MORE VALUE are we who confess the Son of man before men?

"Whosoever shall confess Me before men," Jesus said, "him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels. But he that denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven." (Luke 12:6-12)

As we read further into Luke's account, we see that in the midst, a seemingly out of place encounter occurs. One of the company says unto Jesus, "Master, speak to my brother that he will divide the inheritance with me." (Luke 12:13) Huh? Here is Jesus teaching His followers about how precious we are in His sight, and how much more value are we who confess the Son of man before men, and about blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, and one of the company asks Jesus about how he can get his share of the inheritance from his brother. Here is one openly revealing the state of his heart before the Lord of glory. "What about me, Lord?" he is asking. "Look at all the good things I am doing for You Lord! Me Lord, I am doing all these things for You ... but still, I need more. What I have is not sufficient! I need my brother to divide the inheritance with me as well. I want what my brother possesses -- too!"

In the midst of a dialogue wherein the multitudes are literally pressing into Jesus, and the hypocrite accusers waiting for Jesus to say anything amiss that could be held against Him, here is one of the company wanting a share of the inheritance -- for himself. Like the prodigal son? Perhaps, but the prodigal son at least recognized the error of his ways. As we see here, this man wasn't interested in the Kingdom, or the love and kindness of God our Saviour, or doctrine, or that godliness with contentment in and of itself is great gain. Rather, his heart was still focused on the things in this world "which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Timothy 6:6-12)

Thus, Jesus responds to him by saying, "Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?" Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." (Luke 12:13-15) In other words, Jesus was telling this man, as those also who wanted Him rid from this earth, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is My Kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36)

Herein, Jesus goes on to tell a parable of a certain rich man. This is not my point today so I will leave this parable for you to read on your own. However, for the sake of edification and learning, it is worth noting that Jesus did say to His disciples: "Therefore, I say unto you -- take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them; how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (Luke 12:22-40) And second, Jesus goes onto cite several examples in the parable, encouraging the disciples at the end of His teaching to always be ready for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not. Like the five virgins with oil in their lamps. But I digress.

So Peter then asks Jesus, "Lord, speak Thou this parable unto us, or even to all?" (Luke 12:41) Often, we see Jesus speaking in parables to the crowd at large, and then taking His disciples aside and explaining the parable in detail specifically to them so that they would understand. Peter is asking Jesus if this is the situation here. Will Jesus explain the meaning of the parable concerning faithful and evil servants to them directly? How does Jesus respond? To some observers, it would appear that Jesus told yet another parable.

"And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom [his] l/Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season?" Blessed is that servant whom his l/Lord when h/He comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that h/He will make him ruler over all that he hath. But, and if that servant say in his heart, "My l/Lord delays h/His coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens to eat and drink, and to be drunken ... the l/Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for [h/Him] and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his l/Lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to h/His will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I, if it already be kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:41-50) The baptism Jesus was referring to here was His death on the cross, which He knew was yet to come. "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)

Similarly, in the gospel of Mark, Jesus asks His disciples, " ... Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." (Mark 10:38-39)

"Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? ... Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ..." (Matthew 20:22-23)

"The cup which My Father hath given to Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11; Matthew 26:39)  The hour had come that the Son of man should be glorified. (John 12:27; John 13:31-35)

The work of bringing salvation to one and all was nigh. This is why Jesus fell on His face in the garden of Gethsemane, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39) His humanity -- His soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death. And, then, there was the cross, wherein we see Jesus after receiving the vinegar say, "It is finished!" (John 19:30)

But the message that Jesus taught in Luke 12 is not a message that ends with giving up the g/Ghost on the cross. As we see from the witnesses at the tomb, death could not hold Jesus. The sting of death was of no consequence because Jesus paid the ultimate price for us with His own precious blood. And thus, when, Jesus spoke to His disciples (before He was taken up according to Acts 1:2-3), He expounded on His teachings from afore. He explained to His disciples all that they did not yet understand, while simultaneously caring for their physical needs (i.e. cooking them breakfast on the shore). Indeed, for a period of fifty days.

Yes, Jesus had a baptism to be baptized with and without that baptism, "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" (Luke 12:50)

And, although for most of us, being crucified on a cross will not mark the end of our life journey on this earth, we should still be viewing baptism from the same perspective -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?" ... because Jesus set the example when John baptized He that would come after.

Is this not the same message Peter (standing with the eleven) was sharing on the day of Pentecost when he said, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) When those that were pricked in their hearts asked, "What shall we do?" what did Peter say? In one accord -- in full agreement with the eleven, Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost ..." (Acts 2:38)

First the water (confessing your sins) and then the fire -- the Holy Ghost. Both repentance and water baptism being equal requirements as evidenced in both the old and the new as an answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 1:21-23) With the same desiring heart as Jesus -- "how am I straightened till it be accomplished?"

 As Jesus also said, "I am come to send fire on the earth ..."  (Luke 12:49) Jesus came to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, to pour out His Spirit upon all those believers willing to be refined in persecution. But He also came to purge away the earth's dross and burn the chaff -- those who obeyed the leaven -- the hypocrisy of the Pharisees over the Word of God, including those who stood on the shores watching John baptize in the river Jordan but never themselves desiring to get wet.

But Jesus said even more. He referred to His coming sufferings with an action that mitigates them and thus cannot be ignored -- baptism. He had a baptism to be baptized with that can be likened both to fire and water. The same water and Spirit that Jesus spoke of with Nicodemus. (John 3:1-21; Matthew 20:22) Jesus Himself becoming such an high priest, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, so that we no longer need daily as those high priests who offered up sacrifice -- first for his own sins, and then of the people's in the old covenant -- but rather, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ who fulfilled the saving of our sins once and for all, when He offered up Himself.

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (Hebrews 7:22-28)

And yet He submitted to water baptism so that prophecy which was told afore by the prophets could be fulfilled. The bringing forth of a better covenant.

"And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by the means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." (Hebrews 9:15-19)

Thus, likewise, as apostle Paul points out -- even before the Christ had come, "how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,; and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)

Authentic salvation requires both the water and the Spirit. And in His own words, Jesus said, "How am I straightened till it be accomplished?"

"Then said I, "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7; Psalms 40:7)
"The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God." (Isaiah 52:10)

"Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:1-12)

Jesus said, "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?"(Luke 12:49)

The fire kindled only after Jesus was taken up, when Jesus through the Holy Ghost gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2) This is why the apostles preached repentance and water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus on the day of Pentecost, and beyond, so that we too who believe in Him and are willing to take on His name should receive the Holy Ghost.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin .. for he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if I be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him." (Romans 6:1-9)

This is why John the baptist pointed to the One who came after him -- "Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, "After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for He was before me, and I knew Him not, but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore, am I come baptizing with water." (John 1:29-31)

Still, with all the teachings and scriptural examples, there are those who profess to believe in Jesus who will do anything but be water baptized/buried in the Name of the Lord Jesus. "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees WHICH IS HYPOCRISY." As Jesus pointed out, these supposing in their heart that the Lord came to bring peace on earth and will, as a prerequisite of peace as they understand it from an earthly perspective, welcome them into heaven with open arms. But Jesus said, "I tell you -- nay, but rather division."

It is to these that Jesus said,  "But to that servant who knew His Lord's will and yet prepared not, neither did according to His will shall be beaten with many stripes but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes." (Luke 12:47)

As believers in Jesus by faith, we know the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) We know in whom we believe and trust. We know that when we wait on the Lord, He is truly faithful in all things.

Thus, "blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching!" (Luke 12:37) Blessed are those who continuously proclaim in their hearts, "Blessed be the King that comes in the Name of the Lord ... Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38; Psalms 118:26)

"For He is our peace who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ... for through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:14-22)

Therefore, don't be counted with the unbelievers. Don't be taken in by the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy, saying one thing from their mouth, while believing another in their heart. Rather seek ye the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (and so much more) will be added unto you.

Stand in the offering plate.