Jesus is Awkward

I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
- Luke 12:49-53

Jesus is the master of awkward conversations. Often we think of him as meek and mild - and it is quite true that he is gentle with the broken, and he’s kind to the core. But at the same time he’s not afraid to name the elephant in the room. By showing up in our lives, Jesus surfaces all sorts of tension - some of which he brings, much of which is already there. People’s differing perspectives on Jesus may be one of the things that divides them, but Jesus knows that there are ten thousand other divisions going on in our families and friendships already. And he’s simply unwilling to pretend that’s not the case.

How often do you ‘sweep things under the run’ or ‘put your best face on’ or ‘just buck up and smile’ - in order to cover over some awkward situation, some relational bump, some theological disagreement? Are you willing to join Jesus in naming some of those realities this week - of letting the relationship issues out of the closet and putting them on the table?

Take some time today to surrender these things to Jesus and to ask him to prepare you for the ways he’s going to work in your life this week to raise awkward issues to the surface (so that he can bring healing, restoration, intimacy, and hope).