Commitment To Christ #1 Series

Theme: Commitment to Follow Christ

Text: Luke 9: 57-62

Introduction

A. In Israel, particularly in Jerusalem, there is what they call a “Wailing Wall.” People will go to this place to pray. One day, a journalist was assigned to the Jerusalem Bureau of his newspaper. He got an apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. After several weeks he realized that whenever he looked at the wall he saw an old Jewish man praying vigorously. He wondered whether there was a publishable story about the sight. So he went down one morning to the wall, introduced himself to the old man and said: "I see that you come every day to the wall. What are you praying for?"

The old man replied: "I come here to pray for world peace, for the brotherhood of men, and for the eradication of illness and disease from the earth."

The journalist was impressed of the old man’s sincerity and persistence. He continued to ask: "You mean you have been coming to the wall to pray every day for these things?" How long have you been coming to the wall to pray for these things?" The old man nodded and said: "Maybe twenty or twenty-five years."

The amazed journalist finally asked: "How does it feel to come and pray every day for over 20 years for these things?" The old man replied. "It feels like I’m talking to a wall."

We’re sure that praying at that wall got old, but at least, HE WAS COMMITTED TO DOING IT!

B. In our previous message we learned that God is calling us to stand up and make a commitment to Him. In relation to that, Paul told us that to commit our life to God is our reasonable service. Committing our whole life to God is our logical and sensible response to His great love and mercy.

C. Now, let’s continue our message on the subject of commitment, and I’d like us to know and understand the kind of commitment Jesus required from us when He called us to follow Him. Let’s open our Bibles to Luke 9: 57-62.

Brief background:

At this point of time, the popularity of Jesus had spread throughout Palestine. Consequently, many were attracted to follow Him because He had performed great miracles. He had enabled the blind to see, the lame to walk, and cast out demons. Many had seen how He multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fishes into enough food to feed the 5000 men. Perhaps, many people who had experienced these things had thought, “If Jesus can do all these things then surely, if I follow Him, He can meet all my needs. I won’t miss this great chance.”

Actually, the three persons in our passage were enough to represent them all. They did come and express their desire to follow Jesus. But amazingly, Jesus did not welcome them. In fact He turned them away. Why? Did our Lord not desire to have as more followers as possible? No, but He wanted something more important than that: He wanted commitment from those who would serve Him.

Today the Lord Jesus still requires that same kind of commitment from those who would serve Him. Let us look carefully at the 3 IMPORTANT POINTS IN COMMITTING OUR LIVES TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.

I. WILLING TO SACRFICE FOR JESUS

In verse 57 the first man said to Jesus: “I will follow you wherever you go.” It’s quite a bold statement. But did he mean exactly what he says? Had he any idea where this Jesus may be headed and what may be involved in his journey? Did he think of the consequences of following the teacher? Perhaps, he was just thinking about the glory of being a follower of this miracle-working teacher?

So, in His reply, Jesus told the first man that to follow Him “WHEREVER He’s going” will not be an easy road. Jesus did not want him to think of the glory of being His follower, but to know and realize that there is a price to pay for following Him. Jesus is reminding this man that He is not one of the “high-flying” Rabbis of Israel who jet from village to village, staying in the best hotels, and collecting nice offerings from the crowds that come to hear them. No sir. The Ministry of Jesus is a true “FAITH” ministry!

Now, look at the reply of Jesus to the first man’s request: “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head”. The Lord is saying here that even the very poor creatures have a relatively comfortable life compared to His life. He was asking the man now, “If you really want to follow Me, are you willing to live and sacrifice the way I live?” There is no such as cozy discipleship, my friend.