Following a sports team can be a fun endeavor, but fans come in two breeds: (1) Fair-weather fans follow a team only when it’s winning. They like to cheer, and following the best team available gives validity to their cheering. (2) Faithful fans hang in there through thick and thin. They develop a strong foundation to stand on as they support their team in both the ups and the downs.
In my elementary and junior high days, I was a die-hard Cubs fan. The only time I’d be inside during the summer was when the Cubs were on TV. However, in high school my allegiance changed to the Astros. It’s interesting how the seasons of life can affect what we hold as important, even which sports team we follow.
Unfortunately, the same can be true about the priority we place on following Jesus. It’s easy to follow Jesus when everything is going great, but what happens when it becomes uncomfortable or other things call for our attention? In Luke 9, Jesus challenged us to consider the cost of following Him.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Luke 9:57-58
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus called people to follow Him. The Greek word akoloutheo (ak-ol-oo-THEH-o) was used seventy-seven times in the Gospels to refer to following Jesus. This word means “one going in the same way.” The call from the Lord to follow Him was always in the present imperative, which means it was an ongoing command. Following Jesus, then, is not a momentary decision or just for a set period. When Jesus calls for someone to follow Him, He literally means “keep on following Me.” Jesus’ call for us to follow Him is simple: From now on—for your entire life—follow Me.
Luke gave us three instances of “would-be” disciples that show us just how radical the call is to follow Jesus. The first of these three would-be disciples made a strong statement, “I will follow you wherever you go.” This man had likely seen many miracles and heard Jesus teach, and he decided this was a man he could get behind. He may have determined Jesus was the political messiah the Jews hoped for, and he wanted to jump on Jesus' bandwagon. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, knew what was in the man’s heart (John 2:25); Jesus knew this was not a whole-hearted declaration to follow Him, so Jesus addressed this scribe’s statement by introducing the full cost of following.
Wild animals like foxes and birds had a more comfortable life ahead of them than Jesus did. Jesus knew the full sacrifice involved in what lay ahead of Him. Because following meant “one going in the same way,” Jesus knew all it would take for someone to follow Him. Jesus knew that this scribe was not ready to let go of personal comforts.
Jesus was willing to live without the creature comforts of the creatures He created! Why? Because He loves us that much. It seems this scribe was not willing to accept a lack of personal comfort. Jesus never told the man he could not follow. Jesus simply outlined the cost and allowed the scribe to decide for himself.
We must be willing to accept the gift of God that, in one sense, cost us nothing (Eph. 2:8-9), but at the same time, cost us everything as we deny ourselves to follow Him. Are you willing and ready to follow Jesus, even if the cost includes no guarantee of comfort?
Luke 9:59-60
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
The first would-be disciple had come to Jesus on his own seeking to be a follower. With the second would-be disciple, Jesus Himself took the initiative of calling him to follow. What an honor it is to have Jesus Himself say to you, “Follow me.” Whether this man felt honored or not, we are uncertain, but he did give a response.
“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” This sounds like a reasonable request. In fact, for Jews, burying the dead was a religious duty. On the surface, it appears this man was asking to do an honorable task. That’s why Jesus’ answer seems particularly harsh: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Whoa. Wait! What did He just say?
As honorable as the man’s request sounds to our contemporary ears, we miss one critical detail: the man’s father wasn’t dead yet! If his father had already died, he would have been buried immediately. The man also would’ve been in a month-long period of mourning—and not conversing with Jesus.
The saying, “I must bury my father,” is still used in parts of the Middle East. A man would say it today to explain that he would remain home until his father dies to help with the family business and responsibilities, and receive his inheritance after his father’s death. Perhaps the would-be disciple’s excuse carried a concern that leaving and following Jesus in that moment could mean the loss of his inheritance.
Jesus knows what it costs to follow Him. Jesus knows exactly what it would take for His followers to proclaim the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, His response was not one of disrespect for the man’s family, but a call to the greater commitment. We display our commitment to Christ in the way we handle other priorities. Following Jesus is not an important thing; it’s the most important thing!
Luke 9:61-62
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
This man started off in the right direction, but he quickly got turned around because Jesus was not his first priority. He wasn’t concerned first and foremost with following the Lord and seeking the kingdom. He may have been concerned about what his family would think or do when they found out he was leaving them for Jesus. It was more than just a matter of saying goodbye.
You can’t plow a field while you are looking back. Your lines wouldn’t be straight. Your rows would probably be on top of each other. The apostle Paul put this principle to practice in his own life. He wrote: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
God most likely will not take away all our earthly possessions, nor will He ask us to leave our families and friends. But to follow Jesus we must be willing to give up all those things.
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus allows no shortcuts to following Him. The cost is high, but the reward is great: a full, joy-filled life now and forever. Choose one of the following applications:
- Let go of the past. Do not let the past become more important than where God is leading you today. Focus on Christ daily as you follow Him and embrace what lies ahead.
- Evaluate your priorities. Realize following Jesus includes no guarantee of comfort. Look for ways that your desire for personal comfort has hindered you from truly following Jesus. Remove those hindrances and put Jesus first.
- Follow Jesus with immediate obedience. If there is an area in your life where you have delayed your obedience, understand that this is disobedience. Repent and act immediately on what you know Christ is calling you to do.
This joy-filled life is ours in Christ, if we choose to truly follow Him.
Hope to see you on Sunday!!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Hope to see you on Sunday!!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Last week, I asked you what it had really costs you to follow Jesus?
Life can often feel like an unending round of tasks and responsibilities. Many things call for our attention and care – and most of these are good and important things. So, it’s a challenge when Jesus spoke of all-or-nothing commitment if we are to follow Him.
In Luke 9, Jesus challenged us to consider the cost of following Him.
- Jesus wants all who are willing to follow Him – that’s why He came.
- Jesus didn’t do the popular things, the spectacular things to attract the masses.
- Jesus doesn’t soft-sell what it means to be a disciple.
- Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart or for those who feel a burst of energy after some special experience.
He wanted followers who would follow no matter the cost.
This morning, Jesus gives us 3 instances in Luke 9 of “would-be” disciples that show us just how radical the call is to follow Jesus.
Luke 9:57-58
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?
1. Following Jesus includes no guarantee of comfort.
- Our enthusiasm to follow Jesus is to be matched by an even greater commitment.
- Discipleship includes a desire and willingness to go with Jesus wherever He leads.
- Disciples may be called upon to set aside personal comforts and conveniences in order to be with Jesus.
- A faithful disciple needs to be prepared to deal with rejection for choosing to be a disciple of Jesus.
Are you willing and ready to follow Jesus, even if the cost includes no guarantee of comfort?
What are some comforts we may be called to give up in order to follow Jesus?
Earlier, in Luke 9, Jesus spoke of the cost of following Him: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When Jesus invites us to follow Him, He is calling us to deny ourselves of our own desires and comforts and to step into this new life of following Him.
Jesus simply outlined the cost and allowed the scribe to decide for himself.
We must be willing to accept the gift of God that, in one sense, cost us nothing, but at the same time, cost us everything as we deny ourselves to follow Him.
Luke 9:59-60
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?
2. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
- Following Jesus calls for immediate response and action.
- We have no assurances concerning the future.
- Disciples of Jesus are charged to make known the gospel of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God.
“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
This sounds like a reasonable request. For Jews, burying the dead was a religious duty. Jesus’ answer seems particularly harsh: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
We miss one critical detail: the man’s father wasn’t dead yet! If his father had already died, he would have been buried immediately. The man also would’ve been in a month-long period of mourning—and not conversing with Jesus. The saying, “I must bury my father,” is still used in parts of the Middle East. A man would say it today to explain that he would remain home until his father dies to help with the family business and responsibilities, and receive his inheritance after his father’s death.
This man’s response brought his priorities to light. His attitude of delayed obedience was actually disobedience.
Jesus knows what it costs to follow Him. Jesus knows exactly what it would take for His followers to proclaim the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, His response was not one of disrespect for the man’s family, but a call to the greater commitment.
We display our commitment to Christ in the way we handle other priorities. Following Jesus is not an important thing; it’s the most important thing!
Luke 9:61-62
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?
3. We can’t move forward in Christ if we’re looking back.
- Following Jesus means letting go of the past, refusing to look back, so you can move forward with Him as Lord.
- We have many commitments but none more important than our commitment to Christ.
- Jesus must be first; He will not be second to anybody or anything.
This man’s commitment to follow Christ was derailed by one word: but.
This man started off in the right direction, but he quickly got turned around because Jesus was not his first priority.
He wasn’t concerned first and foremost with following the Lord and seeking the kingdom. He may have been concerned about what his family would think or do when they found out he was leaving them for Jesus. It was more than just a matter of saying goodbye.
You can’t plow a field while you are looking back. Your lines wouldn’t be straight. Your rows would probably be on top of each other.
Paul put this principle to practice in his own life. He wrote: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
You likely know people who are continually pulled back into their old lives.
Looking back reflects a divided heart, and we cannot follow Christ with a divided heart.
God most likely will not take away all our earthly possessions, nor will He ask us to leave our families and friends. But to follow Jesus we must be willing to give up all those things.
Conclusion: The point of this lesson is clear.
Following Jesus takes priority over all other commitments.
What does Jesus want from His followers?
“Total dedication. Not half-hearted commitment. His followers must accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. They must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security. Nothing should detract them from service for the kingdom.”
The demands are high, the work is hard, but the benefits are heavenly!
In what way have you sacrificed conveniences or comfort as a disciple of Jesus?
Have you ever been rejected because of your commitment to be a disciple of Jesus? How did you get through it?
Was there a time in your life when you fully knew God had asked you to do something, but you looked for excuses or delayed responding to Him?
How did you bring about resolution – or have you?
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