King James Bible
"I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?"
Jesus declares his mission brings 'fire'—a metaphor for purifying judgment, spiritual refinement, or the divisive impact of his message. In prophetic literature, fire often symbolizes God's presence that both consumes evil and refines the faithful, suggesting Jesus's ministry will profoundly disrupt the status quo. This cryptic phrase expresses Jesus's urgent desire for his mission to be accomplished, possibly translated as 'how I wish it were already kindled!' The tension reveals his awareness that the full impact of his work—including his coming passion—must unfold before this transformative fire spreads across the earth.