Excuses

Excuses – Luke 9: 51 - 62

Intro: A farm boy accidentally overturned a wagon load of corn on a country road. A farmer who lived nearby came out of his house to investigate. “Hey, Willis,” he called out, “sorry about your troubles. Just come into the house and have a bite to eat and then I’ll help you clean up your mess.” “That’s mighty nice of you,” Willis answered, “but, I don’t think my dad would like me to do that.” “Oh, come on, son! The farmer insisted. “Your daddy won’t mind.” “Well, okay,” Willis agreed, “but Dad won’t like it one bit.” After a tasty meal, Willis thanked his host. “I do feel a lot better now, but I just know my Dad is going to be hopping made.” “He will understand! By the way, where is your dad?” Willis answered, “Under the wagon.”

I What excuse could Willis offer to his Dad that would be acceptable? What excuses have you made in your lifetime? Before we get to the excuses offered in this passage, let’s look at the beginning of this passage.

A Luke 9: 51 – 19:27 is known as the “travel narrative.” Many of the stories are not included in the other gospels leading scholars to believe Luke had another source which they call Q.

B This travel narrative begins with a trip through a Samaritan village. This is highly unusual b/c most Jews would have taken a longer route to avoid the “unclean Samaritans” at any cost.

C James and John were so enraged by being rejected by the people of the Samaritan village that they wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them. The question here is this: does being right or having a holy cause justify the use of force or violence? We find the answer in VS. 55 – “But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” As Christians we are not to lash out, condemn, or despise those who reject the gospel we offer. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is turn your back and walk away even when you know you are right and someone else is wrong.

II The journey to Jerusalem for Jesus was never a search-and-destroy mission; it was a seek-and-save venture. Perhaps this is why the man in VS. 57 is attracted to follow Jesus.

A VS. 58 “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus is politely telling the man now that his journey to Jerusalem is not a vacation. It is a VOCATION. Adopting a life of discipleship is not a part-time commitment.

B The Christian journey does not demand that we reject our responsibilities to family and vocation but, rather, encourages us to see these needs in the light of our faith and through the lens of our deepening commitment to Christ Jesus.

C Commitment to discipleship leads to a testing of loyalties on every front. VSS. 59 to 62 are examples of that testing and the 2 excuses offered for not following the call of Jesus immediately.

III Jesus says, “Follow me!” I like to call these the “but with one T” excuses. We’ve all used similar ones in our lifetime, I’m sure. For example, “I’d love to come to Bible study; but, . . Saturday is the only day I get to sleep in.” “I’D LOVE TO BUT”

A VS. 59b – But he replied, ‘Lord, first, let me go and bury my father.’” Seems like a reasonable request. However, there is no indication that the man’s father is even dead. First, might indicate that after his father is dead and buried according to custom, he will then be free of traditional responsibilities and will be able to follow unencumbered. (Let the dead bury their own dead,) Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead.

B VS. 61 “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” “A BUT FIRST GETS YOU A DON’T BOTHER.” “VS. 62 “no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Jesus is saying, “if you are paying more attention to the folks back home, than I don’t need you.”

Concl: Commitment to discipleship leads to a testing of our loyalties on every front. How many times have you used these or similar excuses for not responding to the call of Christ? Excuses like, “I’ve done my share.” “I’m too old.” “I don’t have the strength or the will to do that.” “I just don’t have the time or the talent.” The radical demands of discipleship require that every potential disciple consider the cost giving Jesus the highest priority in your life. --- When will we stop making excuses? Making excuses may lead us as a family of faith into nonexistence.