19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
When our Lord’s feet walked this dusty earth He certainly experienced plenty of controversy and division, not only amongst the Jews but also amongst His own family. Several times John expresses the hostile statements of these crowds toward our Savior. In their desperate attempt to disparage our Lord Jesus, they were forever calling Him demonically possessed or simply out of His right mind. Their normal course of action when confronted with the Truth of Jesus was to resort to rebuking and name calling in lieu of repenting and restoration. It was much easier for them to say He was crazy than for them to change and be made whole – it seemed to flow so naturally from their hearts by way of their lips. John tells us:
20 "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?" John 7:20 (NIV)
48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" 49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. John 8:48-52 (NIV)
Not much has changed in over 2,000 years has it? Jesus continues to be a cause for contention due to the carnal mind of man. Human nature seems ever to remain the same – as long as a soul is without Christ we can expect dissention. The unregenerate mind is in enmity against the amazing grace of God. Jesus told us this Truth Himself:
51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 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 12:51-53 (NIV)
“The popular image of Christ as ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’ simply will not do. To be sure, He was full of love, compassion and tenderness. But He was also uninhibited in exposing error and denouncing hypocrisy. Christ was a controversialist. John Stott
Paul confirms this Truth in Romans:
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8 (NIV)
Mark also gives us the following insight in his gospel regarding the schism in Jesus’ own family:
21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." Mark 3:21 (NIV)
It seems strange indeed that the One who came preaching peace between God and man should cause such contention – the fault not found in Christ rather in His hearers. Paul writes of this in 1 Corinthians:
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14 (NIV)
We should not be surprised if we experience the same treatment – being thought of as fool or full of folly for our faith. If they treated our Master as such we are likely to go through the same experiences – reproached by ridicule or persecution or harsh words. Jesus warns us of this:
24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! Matt 10:24-25 (NIV)
Divisiveness among hearers of the Gospel is certainly not an argument against the Truth of it – moreover it would appear as an argument for it as it was foretold by the prophet Isaiah and quoted again in 1 Peter:
14 and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Isaiah 8:14 (NIV)
6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, 8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. 1 Peter 2:6-8 (NIV)