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THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (I)
LORD’S DAY, AUGUST 3
Luke 14:16-27

Proverbs 1:24-32

 

“And whosoever doth not bear
his cross, and come after me,

cannot be my disciple.”

 

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (I)
 
In this parable, Jesus described the unbelieving Jews who had rejected His invitation to salvation again and again giving foolish excuses each time. For example, no sensible person would purchase a piece of land without first examining it. And surely, no one would buy ten oxen without first knowing their condition. Another said that he was not able to come because he had just gotten married. One wonders why he could not bring his wife to dinner? It is very clear from their excuses that they refused the Lord’s gracious invitation to dinner not because they could not come, but because they would not come. Indeed, the invitation to salvation went to the Jews first (cf. Rom 1:16). Since the Jews would not come, the Lord threw open His door to salvation to the Gentiles (those whom the Jews despised), the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. Such ones will receive an irresistible call, and be drawn to the feast. Note that these were the same ones Jesus spoke of in the previous parable where the rich host was told to invite the lowly ones for dinner. In light of the teaching on humility there, Jesus is saying that it will not be the proud but the humble who will enjoy His great supper in heaven.
 
Jesus demands wholehearted loyalty from His followers. They must love Him more than they love their parents, wife and children, brothers and sisters. The Christian must also love the Lord more than his own life. Jesus is not telling us to hate our loved ones. That would have contradicted Exodus 20:12: “Honour thy father and thy mother,” Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives,” and 2 Corinthians 12:14 where fathers are told to provide for their children. The word “hate” here must be taken relatively. In other words, Christians must love the Lord so much that their love for their loved ones would seem like hate. In other words, Christ must be first in our lives. It is total surrender to Him. We must bear our own crosses, and follow in His steps. The cross is a symbol of suffering and death. To be His disciple, we must be willing to go to that extent.
 
THOUGHT: “They are a blessed people whom God exercises with the cross” (Calvin).

PRAYER: “Lord, here I take my cross now to follow thee.”

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