Luke records for us in this passage an account of THREE (3) MEN whom Jesus met as He travelled along with His disciples. Two of these men declared that they wished to follow Jesus; to become His disciples. The other was one whom Jesus SUMMONED to follow Him.
What immediately strikes me is the way in which Jesus handles these inquirers (and I think that this is Luke’s reason for recording the details of these meetings).
Most preachers are busy trying to get as many members for their church as they possibly can (and most have good intentions). I like seeing new members myself! I have been praying that I will baptise 50 people / new souls this year. It’s natural. It’s what we expect to see.
But Jesus is radically different in His approach. He seems to spend a great deal of His time trying to DISCOURAGE men from following after Him - or at least that’s what it looks like.
A minister friend of mine was sharing with me recently some advice he was given by an aging preacher whom he greatly respected. The old man said to him, “Son, always endeavour to keep your church as SMALL as you can!” That’s strange talk isn’t it?! And that was coming from a man who himself had pastored quite a large congregation. But what he meant was, preach the truth of God’s salvation, and the demands of following Jesus, SO CLEARLY that ONLY those who have counted the cost and are ready to give up ALL for Christ will join themselves to you.
Friends, it’s my desire to see as many as possible come to Christ - I pray to see them come in their hundreds and even thousands - BUT I DON‘T JUST WANT TO GET A CROWD . . . that doesn’t interest me at all! I want to see men and women, young people, boys and girls turning to Christ with whole hearts; becoming TRUE sold out disciples of the Master. Hallelujah! Even each of us sitted here needs to be transformed from a believer to a disciple of Christ. Infact in the great commission (Matt 28:19) , Jesus commanded us to “go and make disciples” and not “believers”. That point itself tells us that Jesus is more concerned about people who are really careful and serious about their faith.
And so, it’s interesting to read of Jesus’ way of dealing with those who expressed a desire to follow Him; He seems to be trying to DISCOURAGE them. BUT NOT REALLY. In actual fact Jesus’ desire is that people WILL follow Him - but He wants them to think it through first . . . to count the cost involved . . . so that once they DO follow Him they’ll never turn back. Even as He spells out what is required in such clear, shocking terms, inside He is longing for them to accept it - He’s rooting for them - but the cost is the cost . . . it’s non-negotiable . . . and they MUST be prepared for it.
Let us look together at these three men who Jesus confronted with His demands, and consider with me “THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS”.
We read of the first man in VERSES 57-58. And from Jesus’ conversation with him we learn that:
1.THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY SECURITY. [vv 57-58]
It’s quite a bold statement this one makes, isn’t it?! “I will follow you WHEREVER you go!” Can you say that without any idea of where this Jesus may be headed . . . what may be involved in the journey?! Perhaps you need some more information first, and then if you’re still willing to follow all well and good.
Jesus replies that to follow Him “WHEREVER He’s going” will not be an easy road. He’s not one of these “high-flying” Rabbis who flies in a jets from village to village, staying in the best hotels, and collecting nice offerings from the crowds that come to hear them. His is a true “FAITH” ministry filled with uncertainties and the only known destination was to the cross!
When Jesus stepped out of His throne in glory to come to the earth and live and die for us, He left behind all that He had. He exchanged wealth for poverty - out of the ivory palaces into a rude cattle shed. He exchanged rulership for servanthood.
He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head”. What an irony . . . the King of glory - heir apparent to the throne of the Universe - doesn’t even have a place to call “home”. JESUS had no earthly security. He was loaned accommodation by those who loved Him. He borrowed a coin to tell a story. He borrowed a donkey to ride into Jerusalem and fulfil prophecy. Why, He was even buried in a borrowed tomb! HE had NOTHING! Oh, but here I see His glory shining! He gave up all when He came and stood by me!!!
And those who follow Him must be prepared for the same road. NO EARTHLY SECURITY. Now note, I HAVEN’T said “NO SECURITY”. Oh, there is security in following Jesus all right - but it’s NOT any earthly security. It’s not the security of possessions, or money, or homes, or such things. ONLY the security of God’s faithfulness, and a life beyond this one that NOTHING can take away! Though the Christian have nothing to his name in this life, yet he is more secure than the richest, most powerful of men.
If you’re going to follow Jesus - and walk His road - it may well cost you everything! So COUNT THE COST! But remember the words of Jesus elsewhere, He said: “WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT! – Matthew 16:25”
Then we read of a second man in VERSES 59-60. And from Jesus’ conversation with this one we learn that:
2. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY TIES. [vv 59-60.]
Here we have a conversation that has shocked many people; it shocked me when I first read it! Jesus CALLS this man to be His disciple, but he begs leave to go and bury his father first. Doesn’t this seem like a reasonable request?! You feel sympathy for the man, don’t you, as you read it. BUT JESUS REPLIES: “Let the dead bury their own dead: I’ve called you to preach for me.”
Friends, the point Jesus makes here, and let no-one mistake it, is that if you’re going to follow Jesus Christ then the claims of His Kingdom come before ANYTHING and ANYONE else. Jesus said elsewhere that, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” – Matthew 10:37. NOW you get the picture of the kind of devotion that He is calling for! He’s not calling for us to dishonour parents, or neglect our responsibility to family, BUT IF WE ARE PRESSED INTO A CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO, HE COMES FIRST! And indeed, some have had to lose family to follow Christ.
The follower of Jesus has no ultimate earthly ties! So, Jesus says: “LEAVE IT BEHIND!”
I hear young people saying, “I’ll follow Jesus later on. I’ve other more important things to attend to right now. My career, my education, my girlfriend, my boyfriend. I’ve got to provide a nest egg for my family first; wouldn’t God want me to be responsible like that?!” Friend, if God is calling you to follow Him - to commit your life to Christ, or to take up ministry for Him, or whatever it may be, HIS CALL COMES FIRST! No excuse must be allowed to hinder you.
The follower of Jesus has no earthly ties. LEAVE IT BEHIND.
Then finally, we come to the third man in vv 61-62. And from Jesus’ conversation with this one we learn that:
3. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS. [vv 61-62.]
Again, doesn’t this seem like a reasonable request? Would you deny a soldier going to war one last chance to bid his loved ones farewell?! But again, Jesus clearly spells out the cost of following Him. “Once you’ve already declared you are ready to follow me - YOU’VE PICKED UP THE PLOW - if you put it down now because of your inclination after your family back home, you’re not fit for the Kingdom of God!” What is Jesus saying? “DON’T LOOK BACK!”
When Peter, James and John followed Jesus, they literally “DROPPED” their fishing nets to go after Him. And right when it looked like business was picking up too! They went back for nothing. The Master had called.
If you’re going to follow Jesus, there must be no going back. Another reason why we count the cost FIRST!
Our eyes should always be focused on JESUS and not be distracted with the pleasures of the world – Hebrews 12:2. Often we get ourselves diverted from God’s will when we are distracted by earthly pleasures and love of earthly possession. (Comparison with others – wealth & social strata most of the time is the main distraction for many).
The true follower of Jesus allows NO EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS. We don’t look back for anything or anyone.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus’ words are strong, aren’t they?! Here is what it will cost you to follow after Jesus. In short, it will cost you EVERYTHING. He calls for us to commit ourselves completely to Him, and hold nothing back. And THAT is the picture of the authentic Christian.
The follower of Jesus has NOT EARTHLY SECURITY; NO EARTHLY TIES; and NO EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS.
Jesus said to the first man: “COUNT THE COST”. He said to the second man: “LEAVE IT BEHIND”. And He said to the third man: “DON’T LOOK BACK”.
What’s He is saying to YOU this morning?!
JESUS desires to see all of us to become HIS disciples. It is time to move from being a believer to a disciple. Today, when we see our lives in the light of God’s word, we realise how far we are from our call to be HIS disciple.
To know Christ – is to be HIS disciples and NOT a believer.
We desperately need a paradigm shift – our believer’s mentality must change to a disciples mentality. Believer are spiritual babies and disciples and the matured ones who eat what is solid.