Day 16
Jesus’
Message: the cost
Read: Luke 14:25-35
Jesus’
call to discipleship commitment has an “upping-the-ante factor.” Jesus and his
Kingdom are never intended for to be second-place in one’s priorities. The call to forsake and follow demands cost
is counted, commitment made, and cross-carrying discipleship pursued. If this
passage sounds offensive, “could it mean one resists doing-the-sums of
followership?” Families were central to Jewish life, and the cross was not a mere
symbol in a first century; but a daily witnessed terrible way of death
inflicted by the occupying Roman army.
Jesus
points out the implications of following him. In first century Palestine, to
follow Jesus might well mean being rejected by family, and even facing torture
by the civil authorities. To follow
Jesus meant that one’s love for him had to be greater than a love for family or
even one’s life.
The
parables (14:28-32) Jesus told are to encourage people to consider whether to
follow him or not. There’s incredible benefit in being a committed follower of
Jesus, but also immense cost. Following Jesus is not only giving up
(possessions), it’s also taking up (Cross) and putting on (His yoke).
To
fully follow Jesus may mean your actions will be misunderstood by family and
friends, criticism, and becoming un-welcome. It could mean a lower standard of
living so resources can go to ministry, going to unsafe places, facing assault
and sickness to share Jesus’ message; at the least, a rejecting of self
centeredness to serve others’ needs.
Ponder Point (reflect)
- Fully
following Jesus is less costly than not following Him
Consider (respond)
- When
did Jesus last “up-the-ante” on me?
In reflecting . . .
ReplyDeleteNo matter how high the cost goes (or seems to go) for me, it will never reach the level Jesus paid in enabling me to become His follower.