Luke 9:57-62
Matthew and Luke cover this incident in the Lord’s earthly ministry.
We see three men had an encounter with the Lord.
One was definitely had a sincere desire to follow and serve the Lord.
The other two rejected the Lord’s command because of other worldly things.
The Lord’s response to each man was very interesting and somewhat intriguing.
We learn two most important lessons from this brief encounter of the three with the Lord.
Being a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ is not an easy road to travel.
Those who embark on this road require total surrender & commitment.
A follower of Lord Jesus Christ needs to understand that discipleship is not an emotional or impulsive response made at the spur of the moment because it never lasts long.
Following Lord Jesus Christ is a serious business, tremendous challenge & a serious commitment.
I. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP (57-58)
We count the cost when we make a business decision, get married or go on a vacation.
In this verse someone joined Lord Jesus at some point and decided to follow the Lord.
That someone is explained in Matthew as a teacher of the Law.
I am sure he had no idea where the Lord was going or where He is going to stay or where His next meal comes from not even His disciples.
May be this guy was impressed by the crowds that followed the Lord & His teaching.
His decision to follow Jesus could be a momentary impulse & only for certain time.
Today we understand from the scriptures that Lord Jesus is God and He created this world.
Before the world was created God had counted the cost of Christ on earth for human sin.
Christ was prepared to endure all hardships and above all reduced Himself nothing.
Lord Jesus was telling the scribe indirectly in an intellectual way that He has nothing, no place of His own and travelling on a difficult & dangerous road.
2. THE PRIORITY OF DISCIPLESHIP (59-60)
A guy was asked by the Lord to follow Him but he had an option to accept or reject.
Probably he was taken by surprise that the Lord asked him to follow Him.
His presence there in the crowd conveys that his father did not die at that moment.
John MacArthur says it’s a common figure of speech conveying a message that “Let me wait until I receive my inheritance.”
He wanted to go first to attend to his things and then wanted to follow the Lord.
He was conveying a response that he would follow on his own terms.
To this the Lord’s answer was to seek His kingdom first because it has more value.
Many people today wait to follow the Lord till their family obligations are fulfilled.
Most people wait for a better time to follow and serve Lord Jesus.
Those who do not know the kingdom principles will always follow the ways of the world.
He saying to us don’t wait till you retire or you fulfilled all your family responsibilities.
Lord Jesus places commitment to His Kingdom above all of our priorities.
3. NO DISTRACTIONS IN DISCIPLESHIP (61-62)
In Palestine or in India nobody looks back while plowing a field.
The expression for someone who “looks back” has a reference to “Lot’s wife” (Gen. 19:26).
A disciple of the Lord should not look back into the world while serving Him.
That shows that a person is double-minded and is worthless in discipleship.
The Lord cannot use a half-hearted disciple in the Kingdom of God.
The first disciple was too eager but did not count the cost.
The second disciple was not eager but wanted to serve at his own terms.
The third one was not looking forward but was looking back into worldly interests.
A person who is looking back all the time is not fit for the kingdom of God.
To serve Lord Jesus one must count the cost and willing to sacrifice.
To serve Him one must change his/her attitude towards the world & things.
To serve Him one must always look forward not to look back to the world.
There are many within the body of Christ just resemble like these three men.
To follow Jesus Lord means to share in His sufferings and obedient to death.
Our Lord Jesus gave up everything to follow His Father’s will.
Following Lord Jesus is tough and costly, but it is worth it in view of our eternal kingdom.
Matthew and Luke cover this incident in the Lord’s earthly ministry.
We see three men had an encounter with the Lord.
One was definitely had a sincere desire to follow and serve the Lord.
The other two rejected the Lord’s command because of other worldly things.
The Lord’s response to each man was very interesting and somewhat intriguing.
We learn two most important lessons from this brief encounter of the three with the Lord.
Being a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ is not an easy road to travel.
Those who embark on this road require total surrender & commitment.
A follower of Lord Jesus Christ needs to understand that discipleship is not an emotional or impulsive response made at the spur of the moment because it never lasts long.
Following Lord Jesus Christ is a serious business, tremendous challenge & a serious commitment.
I. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP (57-58)
We count the cost when we make a business decision, get married or go on a vacation.
In this verse someone joined Lord Jesus at some point and decided to follow the Lord.
That someone is explained in Matthew as a teacher of the Law.
I am sure he had no idea where the Lord was going or where He is going to stay or where His next meal comes from not even His disciples.
May be this guy was impressed by the crowds that followed the Lord & His teaching.
His decision to follow Jesus could be a momentary impulse & only for certain time.
Today we understand from the scriptures that Lord Jesus is God and He created this world.
Before the world was created God had counted the cost of Christ on earth for human sin.
Christ was prepared to endure all hardships and above all reduced Himself nothing.
Lord Jesus was telling the scribe indirectly in an intellectual way that He has nothing, no place of His own and travelling on a difficult & dangerous road.
2. THE PRIORITY OF DISCIPLESHIP (59-60)
A guy was asked by the Lord to follow Him but he had an option to accept or reject.
Probably he was taken by surprise that the Lord asked him to follow Him.
His presence there in the crowd conveys that his father did not die at that moment.
John MacArthur says it’s a common figure of speech conveying a message that “Let me wait until I receive my inheritance.”
He wanted to go first to attend to his things and then wanted to follow the Lord.
He was conveying a response that he would follow on his own terms.
To this the Lord’s answer was to seek His kingdom first because it has more value.
Many people today wait to follow the Lord till their family obligations are fulfilled.
Most people wait for a better time to follow and serve Lord Jesus.
Those who do not know the kingdom principles will always follow the ways of the world.
He saying to us don’t wait till you retire or you fulfilled all your family responsibilities.
Lord Jesus places commitment to His Kingdom above all of our priorities.
3. NO DISTRACTIONS IN DISCIPLESHIP (61-62)
In Palestine or in India nobody looks back while plowing a field.
The expression for someone who “looks back” has a reference to “Lot’s wife” (Gen. 19:26).
A disciple of the Lord should not look back into the world while serving Him.
That shows that a person is double-minded and is worthless in discipleship.
The Lord cannot use a half-hearted disciple in the Kingdom of God.
The first disciple was too eager but did not count the cost.
The second disciple was not eager but wanted to serve at his own terms.
The third one was not looking forward but was looking back into worldly interests.
A person who is looking back all the time is not fit for the kingdom of God.
To serve Lord Jesus one must count the cost and willing to sacrifice.
To serve Him one must change his/her attitude towards the world & things.
To serve Him one must always look forward not to look back to the world.
There are many within the body of Christ just resemble like these three men.
To follow Jesus Lord means to share in His sufferings and obedient to death.
Our Lord Jesus gave up everything to follow His Father’s will.
Following Lord Jesus is tough and costly, but it is worth it in view of our eternal kingdom.
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