“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed'” – Luke 2:34
Make no mistake, Jesus wasn’t born to be a pleasant and universally popular guy, appreciated and approved by everyone from every background. He commands and empowers supernatural unity among His followers. However, it was clear from the beginning that He would be a source of deep division between those who believe and follow Him and those Who don’t. Jesus never shied away from this truth.
Jesus wasn’t a bland, generally likable, “wise teacher” or “moral example”. He is “the way, and the truth, and the life”. You can’t be “The Way” without profoundly dividing those who agree from those who don’t.
As followers of Jesus, we’re always called to be gentle, humble, loving, and kind. We aren’t to be creating division and strife (though we often sinfully are). However, Jesus Himself divides. If our faithful, Christlike life isn’t resulting in some division separating us from those who don’t know, understand, or believe in Jesus we probably need to evaluate just how closely we’re actually following Jesus! The work of Christ in our lives should separate us from those operating only in their own spirit and flesh.