Division Because Of Him

13/4/2021

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
So there was a division among the people because of Him.
Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
[John 7:40-44 NKJV]

There was division
Ironically enough, the idea that Jesus could cause division is divisive among God’s people. Many will say that Jesus was a unifying presence and others will demur. But as we see here there was division among the people because of Him. The plain fact is that Jesus brings division into the midst. He said he would do so.

Division
Why is this? One would assume that Jesus wanted to unify brothers and sisters into a one-ness in Him; and here we have to see that there are many forces at work; different facets of faith that come into play. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. [Luke 12:51 NKJV]

Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! [Psalm 133:1 NKJV]. For unity in Jesus to prevail there must first be division. We must be divided, or separated from our own lusts, desires and worldly ambitions. There has to be a re-alignment of our inner selves with the person of Jesus; not just in part, but completely. This is impossible for us unless we accept the changing power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus must first divide in order to unify.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Romans 12:2]

But rather division
We can see that the first step in this process is being transformed — divided and separated from our former way of behaving...
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV]