This chapter contains parables of the wedding feast and banquet host, healing on the Sabbath, and the cost of following Jesus.
” ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own [family], and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? …So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.’ ” (v26-28, 33)
Jesus openly invites everyone to follow Him – our infinite God is limitless on how many people He can love. It is clear, however, that many will not want to ‘pay the cost of discipleship’, and, like the banquet guests, will make excuses to decline His invitation.
– ‘Hate your family and life’; This isn’t in the literal sense, that we turn our backs on everyone but Jesus. What He’s saying is He must be our highest priority. We’re still encouraged to love others, just not in a worldly way (making them idols above God).
– ‘Take up your cross’; Taking up a cross was a one-way, final task, that you literally did ‘for the rest of your life’. What’s more serious than death? This is how seriously Jesus wants us to follow Him, as a life-long commitment, and as if our life is on the line.
– ‘Count the cost’; This is where many gospel presentations often fail to inform, and why many ‘Christ followers’ fall away after a time. We want following Jesus to make our lives ‘easier’. In fact, lives of Christ followers are almost guaranteed to be significantly harder, and contain extra suffering (because ‘the world’ opposes Jesus and His followers). Some people don’t realize what they’re in for when they make their Christ commitment, and when the road gets rough, they look for a smoother road.
Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat – following Him is the hardest, most painful, and most difficult thing we can choose to do in this life. Yet, He tells us this life, including any suffering, is temporary, and the eternal rewards for our obedience overwhelm the difficulties we face. True followers will gladly sacrifice the unsatisfying pleasures and comforts of this world for the abundant blessings of eternity.
Father God, our Almighty Sovereign Lord, You promise us eternal blessings beyond imagination. Yet, there is great difficulty between now and then. Please continue to walk beside us along this rough road. Each moment is painful, yet, the temporary suffering is insignificant in light of eternity with You in Heaven. Please help us to properly inform and support Your people so they remain steadfast under trial. It is our hope and prayer that none should fall away, and all should enter into Your kingdom. May we be Your ambassadors for the gospel, each and every day. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training