As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
This must have happened many times. Someone learns about Jesus and wants to follow Him. That’s good!
But Jesus wants this man to know – everyone to understand – following Him isn’t easy - Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
Being a student of this Rabbi wasn’t the typical experience. Jesus didn’t have a house. He was an itinerant preacher. Still is!
To follow this Teacher requires a commitment. Daily decisions that put Him first! Sacrifice is required.
He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
The Teacher isn’t saying His students can’t work, take responsibility to family seriously, or fulfill other significant obligations in life. But He is saying none of those things should be placed above the commitment to follow Him.
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Today Jesus still says follow me. This is what being a serious student of the Teacher is about. Jesus First!
"Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, wouldn't it be cool to see that!?! How many times would that have felt like the right thing to do? Or at least a satisfying thing to do?
Jesus rebukes them.
But didn't just back in Luke 9:5 he mention the shake the dust off your feet if you're not welcomed as a testimony against them?
A testimony against them is different than immediate incineration! Vengence shouldn't be ours. Neither should judgment. People will be judged by their actions, but Jesus rebukes immediate condemnation. Seems Jesus wants to give these people a chance to repent and come to Him, if not now, hopefully later.
Good thing He's like that with us from time to time as well!
So what do we learn from the Teacher in this regard? Hopefully to "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Eph 4:32