As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, knowing full well the cross awaited Him, He encountered three individuals eager to follow Him. Their declarations of intent to follow Jesus should have been met with open arms, yet His responses challenge our comfort and priorities in ways that are jarring.
Luke 9:57-58 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Here, Jesus exposes the reality of discipleship – it’s not about comfort or security. Following Him might mean giving up the luxuries and certainties of this world. He asks, are you ready to let go of your material attachments?
Luke 9:59-60 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Wow! What a stark response. It’s a call to radical commitment, where even the most sacred of duties – family obligations – can’t supersede the urgency of the Kingdom’s work. Jesus challenges our priorities, asking if we’re willing to put His mission above all else.
Luke 9:61-62 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
This isn’t about denying familial love but about undivided loyalty. Jesus uses the imagery of plowing to illustrate that a disciple must be forward-looking, not distracted by what’s left behind.
These responses from Jesus are unsettling because they demand total surrender. They ask us to examine our lives:
Belongings: Are we ready to forsake our comfort for His call?
Obligations: Can we truly place Jesus above all other duties?
Family: Will we follow with a single-minded devotion, not looking back?
Jesus isn’t looking for casual followers but those who are wholly committed. His words invite us to a deeper perspective where following Him shapes every aspect of our existence. It’s about aligning our life with His mission and understanding that true discipleship might mean letting go of everything that we hold dear in this world for something infinitely greater.
