FOLLOW OR NOT
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 9:57-62 contains three brief snapshots taken as Jesus walked along the road.
A few verses earlier we learn that Jesus “STEADFASTLY” set out for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He was determined to go there even though He knew what awaited Him. Since He was the Son of God, He knew in advance that when He got there, He would be betrayed, falsely accused, convicted of crimes He had not committed, beaten, scourged, spat upon, and finally crucified. Instead of running away, he “set his face” to go to Jerusalem in obedience to the will of God.
As he walked along, three men met him on the road. Each man wanted to follow Jesus, but each man had a hesitation, a reservation, or if you will, each man had a convenient excuse. These three men wanted to be disciples but they weren’t yet ready to pay the price.
As we study these brief snapshots, we will discover that these convenient excuses are amazingly still being used to day.
I. The IMPULSIVE MAN (57-58)
We can call this first man the Enthusiastic Disciple. Although I can’t prove it, I think he was a young man—possibly in his late teens or early 20s.
A. The claim he made
There is much we could say about this young man. He is obviously sincere in what he says. He is definite in what he says as well. He says, “I will follow you,” not “I might follow you” or “I’m thinking about following you.” He is unconditional - “whithersoever thou goest.” This is all good.
B. The counsel he received
I find it interesting that Christ didn’t say, “Thank you.” He didn’t say, “I welcome you as my disciple.” In fact, Jesus doesn’t seem overly impressed by the enthusiasm the fellow expresses.
This man is sincere in his desire but he has not yet counted the cost.
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.”
Jesus owned nothing but the clothes on his back. He never owned a home, never had a bank account, and never had a place he could call his own.
Do you realize that you following a homeless man? Jesus had none of the things we take for granted: no home, no car, no computer, no pension, no retirement, no investments of any kind. He lived day-to-day trusting in God to provide for His needs. He grew up in poverty and never rose far above it during his earthly life. He traveled from place to place, depending entirely on the generosity of his followers for his food.
Jesus is challenging this enthusiastic follower to count the cost.
Dr. Tolbert Moore, a dear friend of mine told a story about his child friend Grady Roebuck. He and several of their friend climbed in a wagon to ride down a hill. Faster and faster it got. One of the boys cried, “This is fun.”
About this time, they noticed a big briar patch at the end of road and everyone begin to unload except Tolbert and Grady. They covered up the best they could and through the briar patch they went.
When the friend was over Grady with his blood clothes torn, looked up at Tolbert and said, “Tob, Tob, you can find out who wants to ride the wagon when you come to the briar patch.”
You find out who wants to serve the Lord when come to the briar patches of life as well.
peril of the uncounted costs
II. The INSINCERE MAN (59-60)
peril of the unburied corpse
A. Note the enlistment
Jesus said to another man, “Follow me.” Jesus still seeks men to follow Him.
B. Note the evasion
“Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”
This response has been understood in various ways. For example, some take the statement at face value, and conclude that this man had actually been bereaved and that it was incumbent upon him to proceed to take care of the funeral of his father.
But several arguments may be put forward against this interpretation. In Palestine, indeed in the East generally, burial takes place almost immediately after death. In addition, relatives of the deceased remain indoors until the funeral takes place. It is not likely, therefore, that this man was facing the necessity of having to bury his father. Indeed, it is to be questioned whether he had even lost his father!
What, then, is the explanation of his evasion? It seems evident that this man was the eldest son in his family; as such, it was his responsibility to take care of the funeral arrangements. Consequently, as he anticipated the necessity of discharging his duty in this regard at some time in the future, he had allowed it to become a convenient excuse whenever unwelcome demands were placed upon him.
"Let the dead bury the dead." The Lord Jesus is declaring to this man that he must not permit his duty as a son hold him back from immediate service for the Master.
O, the excuses people make up for not doing what they don’t want to do anyway.
III. The INDECISIVE MAN (61,62)
peril of the unforsaken circle
A. Note the request of the man
“Lord, I will follow thee”
1. The decision introducing the request
It was a good and worthy decision.
2. The danger inherent in the request
If he delayed, he may never follow.
All car salesmen know this scene. If a potential buyer says, "I’m going to go home and talk it over with my wife," you know the chances are good you’ll never see him again. You’ve got to close the deal when the customer is in the building. Let him leave and his cold feet will freeze over.
B. Note the response of the Master
Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Don’t look back!
Satan is in the business of selling rear view mirrors. In fact, he’ll give you one and install it for free if you want one!
Winston Churchill, on one of his visits to the United States remarked in the course of a conversation, "If the present is quarreling with your past, there can be no future."
The devil knows this so well. Getting us to look back is one of Satan’s most effective devices. He stops us from serving in the present by rattling the skeletons from the closet of our past.
1. Some look back and find they are Contented With Yesterday’s Successes
2. Some look back and find they are Controlled By Yesterday’s Sufferings
The ecclesiastical landscape is littered with the carcasses of believers who have let some hurt control their lives.
3. Some look back and they find they are Confined By Yesterday’s Sins
Sin can confine us and keep us from becoming what God means for us to be.
We must not allow sins of the past to call us away from our duty today.
Little boy and mother went to see the movie of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. They arrived late and saw the witch giving Snow White the poisoned apple. When they came around to that point in the movie again, the mother took the boy by the hand and started to leave the theater. The little boy was looking back at the screen as the witch holding out the apple for Snow White to take it. The little boy said out loud, "Snow White, if you eat that apple again, you are crazy!"
We must not go back to previous sins. Look at Genesis 19:26. Lot’s wife looked back! That is what happened to the Hebrews in the Wilderness. They looked back and longed for Egypt. That thinking led to great misery. They were so close to victory when they failed by looking back!
We must not let a sinful past keep us from serving God. When God forgives, He forgets. Oftentimes not accepting the forgiveness of God that keeps us from becoming what we could become!
A little girl was praying the Lord’s Prayer. She meant to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses." However, by mistake she prayed, "Forgive us our trash baskets." Indeed, we need a trash basket into which we can place the past.
In Switzerland, in a church graveyard near the base of a great mountain, there is a special tombstone. It is the tombstone of a man who died on a mountain climb. These words are upon it: "He Died Climbing." Let that be our spiritual epitaph.
Conclusion:
Following Jesus is the most important thing in life. Everything else pales by comparison.
Christ’s exhortation to each of these men may be summarized like this
COUNT THE COST
CUT THE CONNECTIONS
CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES
