Living With The Division Of Jesus


Saturday, April 8 9 Fourth Week of Lent


€ So a division occurred in the crowd
because of him. Some of them even
wanted to arrest him, but no one
laid hands on him.
John 7:43-44

Jesus today remains a cause of division "in the crowd," and not only because some believe in him while others do not. Even those of us who believe he is the Son of God find his words mysterious and challenging. The way of discipleship, after all, is not the way of absolute certainty but of faith, hope and love. Daily, Jesus separates pleasant fictions from stark reality, feeble wishes from genuine hope, mere sentiment from loving service. As we follow him over the course of a lifetime, we find our hearts divided again and again.

And we find ourselves divided from our brothers and sisters because of him as well: sometimes we confidently stand with him against those who would lead us astray; sometimes we are chagrined to discover just how far away from him we have wandered.

Let us not become one of those who wants to "arrest him"-to decide against him and silence his voice once and for all. Let us live with the division Jesus brings, and pray for his mercy.

Mark Neilsen



Jeremiah 11: 18-20 * Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53