Readings for today: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, 11:14-54
On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech in Springfield, IL. He had just won the Republican Party nomination for US Senate. His words were prophetic. Drawing on Jesus’ own words from the gospels, Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new—North as well as South.” He was pointing out the internal contradiction of a nation, founded on liberty, permitting the enslavement of an entire race of people. He knew this contradiction was not sustainable and would end one way or the other. Either with the abolition of slavery or its complete and total embrace. Thankfully, it was the former though it came at great cost.
It’s not surprising that Lincoln would quote Jesus. Jesus Himself came to a world that was deeply divided. The Jewish people were not monolithic in their beliefs. The Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, scribes, Herodians, and zealots were just a few of the groups that vied for power in the first century. All of them may have shared the same goal - the overthrow of the Roman Empire - but they all pursued vastly different means to achieve that end. It’s why the Pharisees were always after Jesus. He was disrupting their political and social project with His talk of the Kingdom of God, rejection of ritual purity, and the performance of miracles. So they had to find a way to discredit Him. “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!” (Matthew 12:24 NET) If they could convince people that Jesus was in league with Satan, they could cripple his movement and put a stop to His growing influence. Jesus, however, was well aware of their intentions. He knew what they were thinking and planning and His response is on point. “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25-26 NET) Jesus clearly points out the contradiction and forces His opponents to come to grips with the truth of His mission. “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has already overtaken you.” (Matthew 12:28 NET)
It feels like we are living through similarly divided times. Extreme elements of both political parties continue to drive a wedge deep into the heart of our nation. The rise in hatred, outrage, and even violence around our country is the fruit of their efforts. Their goal, stated or unstated, is to see America fall. They perceive America to be either the source of great evil in the world or irreparably broken. Their solution is to burn it all down and start over. And lest you think I am referring to one political party over the other, let me be clear. Extreme elements on the political Left and political Right seem to share this same goal. The same is true for the many different advocacy groups, all funded by dark money, that seem to be driving a similar narrative. Promoting their specific agendas. None of them with our country’s best in mind.
Jesus offers us a different way. A better way. The way of the Kingdom. Love over hate. Gentleness over anger. Peace over violence. Forgiveness and reconciliation over bitterness and estrangement. Only Christ is strong enough to hold us together when every other power in the world seeks to tear us apart. And only the people of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, can live out the principles of the Kingdom of God and offer our nation and our world a different way. A house divided against itself cannot stand. This is true in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, regions, states, and nation. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom as you seek to proclaim the Kingdom of God today.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays