Our last election was quite a doozy. Now suppose one of the candidates stood up, maybe during the primaries, and gave this speech, “If you vote for me I promise you’ll have nothing left. No home, no car, no family.” What if instead of “America First” he or she proclaimed “America Last.” I think the political pundits would be so confused they wouldn’t even know what to say.
Now Israel was looking for a political revolutionary. They wanted someone who would lead them into battle to regain their identity as a sovereign people. So as revolutionary leaders go, Jesus’ message here doesn’t play so well. Think instead about this. What if Jesus wasn’t campaigning for followers. What if he instead of a military operation, he was about to lead a rescue operation. As if to say, “I know some of you have loved ones, you’d better kiss them good bye.” You might lose your life, he tells them, are you sure you want to follow me down this path? If we read the history of 1st century Jews and Christians, this danger is a real thing. I’ve maybe used the phrase “take up your cross and follow Jesus” before. As I’m reading, it really struck me that wasn’t a metaphor. No, it was a gruesome and humiliating death and a real thing that happened to people who were sideways of the government in that day. When Jesus goes on to say count the cost before you start a major building project, I am like well yeah, in my business I know guys that do that all the time. But to his hearers they would immediately think of the most important building project of their time, the Temple. Herod the Great had started the process of rebuilding and the work had been continued by his sons.* But why? God’s presence had left the temple long ago. Next, he brings up a king who would be well advised to make sure he has the troops sufficient to win the war before starting one. Remember these were people who wanted to go up against the Roman government. Had they any idea the forces they would be up against it would have been smart to find a way to make peace for sure. The last thing in this passage has to do with salt. And by salt, I mean the Jews, AKA the people of God. The people of God were not living their purpose. Just as in yesterday’s reading they would be left out of the great feast in the kingdom because they didn’t respond, Jesus is saying if you fail at your purpose of being the people of God, you aren’t actually the people of God. Wow Jesus, tell us how you really feel. I want to say, “Thank you God, that I don’t have to endure persecution,” but I’m not sure that’s sufficient. Is it enough to recognized that we are blessed and don’t actually have to give up everything to follow Christ? For Lent I gave up coffee and chocolate. When I hear Jesus’ words about hating my mother and my brother and being prepared die beside our savior on the cross, it seems a very small sacrifice indeed. True story, when I was reading through Luke in preparation for these devotionals I noticed he hits this button several times. I thought, goodness Luke, enough with the take up your cross stuff we get how hard to follow Jesus. But I don’t think I actually did. You see, it’s 2017 and here in Kansas City it’s relatively easy to follow Jesus. In fact, we church people hardly even ask you to give up anything to be one of us. It’s uncool to ask for money to support the ministry. We don’t want to talk about sin because it may sound judgmental. And many churches view themselves more as a service organization to the community with a program for everyone, than a dynamic body of believers. I’m not saying this to lay a bunch of guilt on anyone, or even to be critical. We need perspective. Because we have one job, and we need to do it well. This is it. Stop living for yourself. Live for God. *Wright, NT. Luke for Everyone. p181. Luke 14.25-35 25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. 34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
1 Comment
Justin Darbino
3/22/2017 07:21:29 am
Good one! So many times we forget that even though God wants the best for us, He also wants us to give up ourselves and everything that we have. It's only after we let go of our selves that we can then take hold of the gifts of God.
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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