“Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ’If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Luke 14:25-35, ESV).
What is the essence of an airplane? It’s the wings. What is the essence of a car? It’s car engine. How about of the engine? It’s the piston.
What is the essence of a leche flan? It’s the egg.
What’s the essence of success? It’s accomplishing or achieving the goal. And what is the essence of encouragement? Google says, “strengthening hearts and inspiring bravery.”
This time, we’ll discuss the topic, ESSENCE OF OBEDIENCE, as we focus on our text (Luke 14:25-35).
If we consult the Google, we find that simply essence of obedience “…consists in the fact that a person comes to view himself as an instrument for carrying out another person’s wishes and he therefore no longer regards himself as responsible for his actions.”
However, the essence of obedience to God, in religious circle is understood as “complete surrender to God’s authority and Word. Doing anything God commanded us to do, regardless of the cost.”
All of us could say, “Amen!” to those words. But in our text, we could go deeper. We could see that the essence of obedience of every Christian is not manifested just on his “doing,” but in his “being.”
So, what is the essence of obedience, not just in the perspective of Google, not just in the general view of religious community but in the very perspective of Jesus Christ Himself?
Be reminded that the Book of Luke was written in the form of a letter to a man named Theophilus. The writer was Luke, who was a physician and a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. He presented the true humanity of Jesus and His place in history. Matthew showed Jesus, as the Jewish Messiah; Mark depicted Jesus, as the servant of God; and John proclaimed Jesus, as fully God. Along with other writers of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew and Mark), Luke emphasized repentance, while John stressed in believing the Gospel. There is a need, therefore, not just to believe in the Gospel but also to repent. As Jesus said, “… repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
A theologian and pastor said that in repentance we turn away from sin and turn to God. In believing, it’s like, we embrace Jesus. We don’t just turn from sin without embracing Christ. And we don’t just embrace Jesus without turning away from sin.
Now, Luke related in chapter 14 that after Jesus “went to dine in the house of a ruler of the Pharisees” (Luke 14:1), he proceeded to Jerusalem.
In our text, we learn how Jesus reacted when “great crowds accompanied him.” By what He said to them, we could have an idea just what is the essence of obedience in following Him.
And what is it? The important point that we can focus this time:
A GREAT LOVE FOR JESUS.
We need the whole text, but let’s just read verses 25-26, “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.’”
The word “hate” in this verse should be understood as, “love less.” So, in the Contemporary English Version, we read verse 26: “You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot follow me unless you love me more than you love your own life.”
What does it imply? It implies that he who comes and obeys to follow Jesus has a great love for Him. The kind of love of that particular person is even greater than any feeling of affection that he has for others. His love for Jesus is even greater than his love for his own life.
He sees more the great value of Jesus. He feels more delight in Him. He is more attracted to Him. He prefers Jesus more than any person in this world.
And because of his great love for Jesus, he is willing to come and obey to follow Him.
Because of his great love for Jesus, he is willing to suffer for Him and though he is even aware of other difficulties ahead, he proceeds to complete the task (vv. 27-30).
Because of his great love for Jesus, he is willing to “renounce all that he has” (v. 33). It does not mean he will dispossess all of his possessions. It means he will not be possessed by his possessions.
Also, because of his great love for Jesus, he is willing to be of use by Him. He will not allow himself to be of no service to Jesus. He wants to be a “good flavor” -- through his good deeds -- in this bitter world in order that others would glorify God.
Just like the woman in the church of Pastor Choi in Masbate. She is already senior and blind (!); yet she attends the Theology class and active in the ministry of the church. Her saltiness is not lost, though she is old and blind.
But is every service to God pleasing to Him?
Let’s listen to what Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28:47-48, in the NLT: “If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The LORD will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you.”
Service to Him without “joy and enthusiasm,” and that means, not motivated by love. When there is love in our heart, there is joy in what we do. Without it is not pleasing to God.
Indeed, it is important that service or obedience be motivated by love.
Jesus related one parable wherein he concluded by saying, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10).
Those who accomplished something for God because that’s only their duty, they should regard themselves as “unworthy.” Or, we could also understand it this way, if persons are motivated by love, they can accomplish more than what they are commanded to do.
The essence of obedience, which is the great love for Jesus, is really necessary to be a profitable servant. And it is a must in order to come and obey to follow Jesus.
Our human tendency, however, is to love ourselves, or to value more our affectionate relationship with others. Our tendency is to love what is easy, comfortable, or convenient. Our tendency is to become slaves by our possessions. Our tendency is to be indifferent, lazy, be an observer, or just to be entertained.
No person is born as a great lover of Jesus. That’s why Jesus also said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:44.) And in the Living Bible version, we read verse 65, “…’That is what I meant when I said that no one can come to me unless the Father attracts him to me.’”
Crowds came and followed Him, because they were only attracted to what they could get from Him.
But, for those whom God elected and loved even before the foundation of the world, He gives them the spiritual eyes. So they could see the Goodness and Greatness of Jesus. Thus, they are truly attracted to Him. They come to Him. They love Him.
Being great lover of Jesus, they become profitable in what they are doing.
Believers of Christ -- is there essence in our obedience? Are we great lovers of Jesus? Not just lovers. But great lovers.
As Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37).
Do we have this love for Jesus?
He told the Jews, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me” (John 8:42).
If we believe Jesus, we are given the right to become the children of God. God becomes our Father. If our belief or faith is genuine, meaning it is God-given for we are the object of His love, then we will also adore or love Him in return. That’s why for true believers, not only they can really call God, “Father!” but they will also love Him and Jesus.
Now, would you like to grow in your love for Jesus?
Know Him more.
How? We can mention at least three ways this time.
First, by spending time with true worshipers. We read in Malachi 3:1, “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.” When we talk to each other, we don’t esteem our own selves. And we don’t just try to esteem others. We ought to esteem God. Together we’ll know Him more.
Second, by praying to Him. The Psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18). When we pray, we can also ask, not only for the understanding of His Word but also for the knowledge of His Worth.
And third, by keeping God’s word. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him" (John 14:21). It is not enough that we have access to God’s Word. We ought to keep it. It shows we love God. We also feel His love. And Jesus we’ll manifest, reveal, disclose Himself. He will be more real to us.
We need to know God or Jesus more to love Him more. And if we are great lovers of Jesus, there will be essence in our obedience.
CONCLUSION:
In closing, taking a casual look at Luke 14:25-35, what we can obviously see is the difficulty, the hardship, or the burden of the tasks that Jesus described. But in the last part, He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
If we are given the “spiritual hearing” and so we understand the essence of obedience, the words of Jesus will not be burdensome. He told His disciples in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Whether promises or commandments, His words will give joy, delight to those who are great lovers of Jesus. Being so, there will be joy in our doing.
