It surprises some people to hear that more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in every other previous century put together. The sideways glances and social putdowns that Christians receive in the Western world are nothing compared to the severe persecution faced by millions of other Christians in other parts of the world. Yet, even in the face of violence, rejection, and abandonment, Christians still count the cost and follow Jesus.
Jesus’ Focus: Multiplying the Movement
In the final months of Jesus’ ministry, he was focused on two things: multiplying the movement and pointing out the costs associated in multiplying the movement. As Jesus “set his face toward Jerusalem” Luke 9.51 ESV, He repeatedly called people to follow Him, regardless of the cost.
The Idealist: Following Jesus Is Not Easy
In Luke 9.57-58 NLT, a man approaches Jesus and says, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus isn’t impressed with the man’s idealism. He lets the man know, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” In other words, it won’t be easy. Following Jesus means saying, “I’ll follow You wherever You lead, even when it’s hard.”
The Procrastinator: The Time to Follow Jesus Is Now
Jesus has another conversation with another man in (Luke 9.59-60 NLT). Jesus invites the man to follow Him, but the man has other matters on his mind. He tells Jesus, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”’ This seems reasonable until you realize that the most likely scenario is that the man’s father hadn’t died yet. In essence, the man told Jesus that he would follow Him, but not right now. That explains Jesus’ response: “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
You might know some people who say they’re waiting to follow Jesus until they’re older or the timing is better for them. It’s a common excuse. They say when they get out of school, they’ll get serious about their relationship with Jesus. They say they’re too busy right now and they’ll think about spiritual things when they’re not so busy. The problem is that every stage of life has its own demands and time constraints. Jesus says, “Stop putting it off. The time to follow Me is now.”
The Half-Hearted: Following Jesus on His Terms
Finally, in Luke 9.61-62 NLT, a man says, “Yes, Lord. I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
He’s willing to follow Jesus, but only on his own terms. Jesus won’t have anything to do with such half-hearted discipleship. He replies, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus? Are you willing to say “yes” to Him, even if His timing and His terms don’t fit in with your future plans? Jesus challenged each of the men in these verses to leave their excuses and comforts behind. What would you do if you were in their shoes?
The fact is that following Jesus will often cost you. The call to discipleship is the call to follow Jesus: wherever He leads, whenever He calls, and whatever it takes
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Invest In A Few.
