Following Christ

As we continue in Luke 9:57, the author details a discussion that Jesus is having with His followers. In response to an invitation to follow Jesus, one man probably got caught up in the moment and did what we all have done in our life and committed without thinking about the consequences. He tells Jesus that he would follow Him anywhere and anytime. In response, Jesus tells him that others have homes and places to rest their heads but that being a follower of Jesus did not guarantee even those basic worldly things.

Jesus had just been rejected by the Samaritan village and knew what fate awaited Him in Jerusalem, so He was literally without a bed or home at this time. Jesus didn’t have to go to Jerusalem, He could have stayed away from His enemies, stayed under the radar and probably would have lived a long life as a carpenter and rabbi, dying of old age instead of being murdered on the cross.

I found an interesting commentary that was written to shed light on this part of the scripture at http://www.bgct.org/TexasBaptists/Document.Doc?&id=1792. This commentary is written on behalf of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is pretty down to earth in its content. Please
go to the website to read the commentary in full. I have summarized it and added a few of my own ideas.

In regards to having a home while on this earth, Jesus lived with Peter in his home in Capernaum and with Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany. When He was told that He was not welcome in the Samaritan village and knew His future fate in Jerusalem, He knew that his earthly accommodations were going to be limited. With this reality in mind, Jesus spoke honestly to His followers regarding where they were going to sleep also, if they followed Him.

In regards to us, following Jesus today, we have to keep our focus on Him and not our worldly possessions. I am grateful for my home and all of the related things that come with it (furniture, family, warmth, comfort, big screen with HD etc...) but if I lost it tomorrow and was sleeping in my car, it wouldn’t change my relationship with Jesus. It is important for us to go where our Savior goes.

Moving on, Luke tells us that another man says that he will follow Jesus after he takes care of some family obligations. During that time period, people would use the excuse that they had to take care of their parents until they died and that because of that excuse, they avoided having a steady job, paying their bills or serving in the military. I had a lot in common with this person because for most of my life I used many lame excuses to avoid following Jesus simply because it was never a convenient time to do so..

The last person that Jesus invited to follow Him tells Him that he needs to say good bye to his family before he could commit. Jesus’s response is stern when He references a farmer with a plow who doesn’t pay attention to what he is doing will do a lousy job. In reference to us, we cannot say that we accept Christ and His salvation and work part time for His kingdom. We can’t say that we know the word of God when we don’t read that word and make it part of our life. We make a weak argument that Christ is in our life if He is not evident in what we do on a personal and business basis. Lastly, if we don’t give generously into His kingdom, we will be like those that reject Him in this book of Luke, missing out on the many blessings that faith in Him provides.

The aforementioned website closes out this subject with a story about Mother Teresa and the subject of servitude.

Mother Teresa was opening a new orphanage in New York City. An impromptu press
conference broke out. Someone shouted the question, “How will you know if this is
successful?” The tiny Albanian nun turned, smiled into the camera’s glare, and said, “I
don’t believe our Lord ever spoke of success. He spoke only of faithfulness in love.”
Jesus measures discipleship by obedience. He was born on Christmas so he could die on
Good Friday for you. Your grateful service is the gift he seeks from you this week. He’ll
unwrap your present and put it to good use. What will Jesus receive from you?