The Great Divider
So there was a division among the people on account of him.
John 7:43
Twice again John tells us of division because of Jesus (9:16; 10:19). A lot of pleasant talk about unity these days forgets that Christ is the Great Divider. He came not to send peace but a sword and expressly declared that He would divide families, so that a man’s foes would be they of his own household (Mt. 10:34-36). He divides hearts, homes, churches, humanity. No man can take a stand for Christ without a cleavage. If we gather not with Him we scatter abroad.
But not all division is on account of Christ. “Mark them which cause divisions…and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). There are trouble-makers who delight in schisms. Be sure your division is on account of Him, not “them.”
But be not deceived by sweet talk about harmony that does not make Christ the issue. He is the sanctuary or a snare (Isa. 8:14) and there is no middle ground. Men fall on that Rock and are broken in repentance or that Rock falls upon them and breaks them in judgment.
He is the Great Divider, and He does not divide men horizontally-high class, middle class, low class-but vertically, to the right and to the left.