A New Way Of Life

Luke 9:51-62 A New Way Of Life

1. Nathaniel says, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” according to Nathaniel nothing good comes from Nazareth.

• Jesus had moved from Insignificance to Celebrity status in a matter of months

• News of miraculous healings, had spread throughout the region

• Crowds would flock to see or benefit from his miracles.

• Disciples followed with enthusiasm

2. Jesus’s popularity becomes troublesome

• Opposition developed. The crowds got smaller.

• The zeal of the disciples began to wane.

• Caesar’s reign became more self-evident than God’s dawning reign.

• It was to this background, Luke tells us, that Jesus resolutely “set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

3. Why is Jesus so determined to go to Jerusalem?

• Jesus knows exactly where he needs to go — “he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). He has a ministry and a mission.

• Note verse 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

• Samaritan folk refuse to receive the ideas, the concepts, the kingship of Jesus.

• Notice what James and john say to him, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (v. 54).

• Jesus rebukes their thoughts 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 They go to another village

4. Jesus shares what it takes to be a Disciple

• Jesus and the disciples are going along the road to Jerusalem, a person says to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus says to him, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (vv. 57-58).

• The man probably thinks to himself, “Gee, I really like to sleep in my own bed at night.” Don’t we all? At this point, it seems that he slips away and heads home.

• Then, Jesus says to another potential disciple, “Follow me.” But the man says, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father” (v. 59). That seems like a reasonable request, doesn’t it? A good next step. After all, the Ten Commandments say, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus

• But Jesus says, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). The grieving man doesn’t know how to respond, so he drops out of the crowd — probably to take care of the funeral arrangements.

• Finally, another potential follower says, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (v. 61). Again, a reasonable and respectful request: A quick good-bye to the family, so they won’t think that their loved one has disappeared.

• But Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (v. 62). The request of the final follower is immediately denied.

5. Jesus speaks of a New Way Of Life

• The new way of life has no beds, no opportunity to visit a funeral, or visit a loved one

• The next chapter of Luke, Jesus gives 70 of his followers a set of commands, telling them to “carry no purse, no bag, no sandals” (10:4). “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house,’” says Jesus. “Eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’” (vv. 5, 8-9).