Luke 9:57-62 The Importance of Self Denial Main Idea: Jesus requires 100% commitment and loyalty from his disciples which will involve personal sacrifice. Following from the last time when we looked at the disciples wrong motives for ministry. Jesus continues to talk about the cost of discipleship. In this section, three people want to become Jesus’ disciples but do not understand the cost involved. Discipleship was an important theme for Jesus as this has already been covered (Luke 9:23-27). v57-58 This man is a teacher of the law (Matthew 8:19). These teachers held a prestigious place within Jewish society. Perhaps, he was looking for a similar amount of prestige and honor by following Jesus. Jesus does not deny the man, but what he does say is that there will be a cost to following him. He is allowing the man to weigh up what is involved. He is telling him that there will be no prestige or honor for those who truly follow Jesus. “28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?…33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Luke 14:28 & 33 What is the cost? “By using the title "Son of Man," Jesus heightened the irony of His sufferings. If the Son of Man experienced these things, how much more would His disciples.” Constable, Notes on Luke Jesus is pointing out that for a disciple, there may not be security. In fact in this context, there would be homelessness and no place to call his own. He was possibly referring to the rejection that he faced in Samaria (v51-56). One thing that Jesus definitely does not promise is prosperity. What have you given up to follow Jesus? What has been the cost to you personally? What is Jesus asking you to give up to follow him? Is there something in your comfort that is holding you back? Is your Christian life based on attaining comfort, security i.e. ‘the American Dream’? Radical, David Platt v59-60 Jesus asks the man to follow him as he did to Peter and the other disciples (Luke 5:10,11). In that situation, the disciples ‘left everything’. Here the man hesitates and wants to bury his father. Why does this seem so harsh? It is possible that the man’s father is not dead yet, but just may be in old age or close to death. Normally, the custom in Israel in those days was that people who died were buried on the same day, as Jesus was. If he was dead, the son would have been there with him at that time and not in a public place. We must remember that Jesus can see into the hearts of men (Psalm 33:15). In this case Jesus sees the man’s answer as an excuse. ‘Let the dead bury their own dead’ - perhaps Jesus is referring to the spiritually dead burying the dead. Whatever his reason he follows this with a command to proclaim the kingdom of God. This would suggest that this man is a believer and Jesus is being firm with him. Jesus has work for us as believers to do which is urgent and should not be put off. Jesus demands 100% loyalty. “…he was allowing something else to take precedence over Christ’s call”. MacDonald, Believers Bible Commentary Are you allowing something else to take precedence over Christ’s call on your life this morning? Is your loyalty to Jesus divided? Does the Lord have something urgent for you to do for his Kingdom? Now is your time to serve. Now is your appointed time to live for Christ and advance the kingdom of God. “It is Jesus’ insistence that we must act at once when our hearts are stirred within us.” Barclay, The Gospel of Luke “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” Psalm 103:15,16 Jesus has work for you to do, are you stepping up to the plate? I would like to encourage you to pray for the Lord’s will to be done through you. It is possible to miss his plan. Jesus does not force you to be involved in his ministry; you have a choice. Each person has a limited amount of time available to them. Retirement is a wonderful time to step up in ministry. Are you making excuses not to be involved? Is God’s will being accomplished in your life? How can you proclaim the Kingdom of God this morning? v61-62 The point that Jesus is making is that everything - even family - must be forsaken for Christ’s call. The man is putting himself first instead of Christ; his own desires and priorities instead of Jesus’ demands and the priorities of the Kingdom of God. Following Jesus requires 100% commitment and there cannot be half-hearted service. “Complete devotion to His service and unconditional faithfulness to the task to which He calls are the indispensable requisites for true following of Jesus.” Geldenhuys, The Gospel of Luke “12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 “He (Elisha) took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.” 1 Kings 19:21 Jesus uses a farming image here. The farmer in those days held an oxen driven plow. The oxen used to pull the plow and the farmer had to steer it. This required him to look forward all the time that he was plowing. If the farmer did not look forward but instead looked backwards, the plow would waver and not keep a straight line. This kind of farming required total focus and concentration. It also requires a persons 100% energy and commitment. When the farmer looks back he gets distracted. Pastor Bill’s testimony Are you distracted just now in life? Have you lost your focus on what God has called you to do for his Kingdom? Jesus was able to demand such commitment because that was his purpose. Jesus was never half hearted in accomplishing the Father’s will for his life. His was the perfect example of commitment. Jesus is the example that we should follow and it should be all or nothing. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38 “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 When we consider the Lord’s example it is first suffering and then the glory. “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 “The cross must be borne before the crown can be worn.” Garland, ECNT Luke v 62 ‘No one… is fit for service in the kingdom of God’ - note that Jesus is not talking about salvation here, but is talking about faithfulness to serving his Kingdom. .