"The Cost of Following Jesus"
Josh Rothschild
51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. 53 But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
55 But he turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. 57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” 60 But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
– Luke 9:51-62
"If Jesus if Messiah, we must lay down everything to follow Him."
- Lay down hatred inside us
- Disciples react with anger, wanting to call fire down from heaven.
- Jesus rebukes disciples, calling them to love enemies instead of seeking retribution.
- Key: Jesus exposes and rebukes the hidden hatred in our hearts, leading to transformation.
- Lay down good gifts
- First disciple: called to give up his home; following Jesus may mean giving up comfort and security.
- Second disciple: called to prioritize the kingdom over burying his father.
- Third disciple: called to prioritize Jesus over saying goodbye to family.
- Key: Jesus calls for radial allegiance, prioritizing him over even good and noble things.
- Jesus as Messiah, not just a prophet
- Comparison between Jesus and Elijah
- Elijah called down fire; Jesus rebukes disciples for similar anger.
- Elijah allowed Elisha to say goodbye; Jesus calls for immediate allegiance.
- Key: Jesus is more than a prophet; He is the Messiah, demanding and deserving ultimate loyalty.
- Call and Application
- Following Jesus is costly but worth it because he is the Messiah who gave his life for us.
- Discipleship involves owning our sin, sacrificing what we hold dear, and trusting Jesus with out lives.