A
major shift in Luke’s Gospel occurs at Luke 9:51 (and goes to Luke 18:14), as
Jesus turns his attention from ministry in Galilee to a resolute focus towards
Jerusalem and his coming suffering. Despite opposition (Luke 9:51-56), Jesus
calls for personal sacrifice, even of family responsibilities, in order to
concentrate completely on serving the Lord (Luke 9:57-62).
Key Truth: Luke
wrote Luke 9:51-62 to teach believers that Jesus' disciples are called to follow Him in grace and commitment despite opposition and obstacles.
Key Application: Today I
want to show you what God’s Word says about the cost of following Jesus.
Pray and Read:
Luke 9:51-62
Sermon Points:
1. Jesus’
disciples are called to follow Him in grace despite opposition (Luke 9:51-56).
2. Jesus’
disciples are called to follow Him in commitment despite obstacles (Luke 9:57-62).
Exposition: Note
well,
1. JESUS’
DISCIPLES ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW HIM IN GRACE DESPITE OPPOSITION (Luke 9:51-56).
a.
Jesus’
Galilean ministry comes to a close at Luke 9:50 and at Luke 9:51 opens a new focus.
From this point to his Passion is six months. The long section from Luke
9:51-18:14 is, along with Luke 1-2 and 24, Luke’s most distinctive contribution
to the Gospels, the Lord’s Travelogue from Galilee to Jerusalem and His
Passion. No matter that his disciples do not understand, the Lord resolves that
the time has come for him to accomplish his mission, and in perhaps an echo of
the third Servant Song, “I have set my face like flint” (Isaiah 50:7; Ezek 21:2),
Jesus set out resolutely (Luke 13:31-35). Coming down from the Mount of
Transfiguration, he sets Mount Zion – the city of Jerusalem – before himself as
a goal for his “taking up,” or ascension, which we see in Acts 1.
b. Luke
9:53 – It was no
secret that intense religious hostility existed between Samaritans and Jews. In
order to travel from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem in the south, one must
either pass through Samaria or go around them on the east side of the Jordan.
It was a three day journey. Samaritans were a real irritation to Jews to begin
with. Descended from various tribes by Sargon II of Assyria when he repeopled
Samaria after the fall of northern Israel in 722 BC, they were not really Jews
by race. But they adopted Jewish forms of worship and read Torah. After the
Exile, when the returning Jews refused their help in the rebuilding, the hard
feelings increased. The ill-feeling persisted for centuries. Here, the rudeness
of the Samaritans refusing shelter to Jesus’ party because they were headed
toward Jerusalem (and not their Temple on Mount Gerizim) roused the Sons of
Thunder. James and John, similar to an earlier retaliation (Luke 9:49-50) want
to call down fire on them, similar to Elijah (2 Kings 1:9ff; 1 Kings 18:38).[1]
One of the odd features of the disciples’ training is that they are so
insensitive in time of crisis (e.g., Mark 10:32-36). What an opening to Jesus’
long march to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the whole world. Right out of
the gate, the disciples’ arrogance toward the outcast and God’s love for those
outside the covenant promises are center stage, a major issue that must be
worked out in the book of Acts. One day, even despised Samaritans would be offered
the free gift of salvation found in Jesus (Acts 8:4-25).
c.
APPLICATION: The pride and self-importance of the
disciples continues. How do we react to hostility? With graciousness. Jesus
corrected the disciples’ militant suggestions. But there is more here in a
Lukan theme of God’s love for all people, regardless of ethnic or cultural
background.
2.
JESUS’ DISCIPLES ARE CALLED TO
FOLLOW HIM IN COMMITMENT DESPITE OBSTACLES (Luke 9:57-62)
a.
The
key Christological theme of the Travelogue is that Jesus is headed to Jerusalem
to suffer and die – with the corollary that his disciples must be willing to
suffer for their master. This account presents this theme. Three men approach
Jesus wanting to be his disciples. In each case, Jesus’ response points to the
radical nature of the commitment and the cost a disciple must be willing to
pay. Jesus calls for personal sacrifice (Luke 9:57-58) and perhaps even giving
up normal family responsibilities (Luke 9:59-60) in order to concentrate
completely on serving the Lord (Luke 9:61-62).
b.
Luke 9:58 – Foxes and birds: Jesus singular devotion to his task
means that he has no permanent home to provide security.
c.
APPLICATION: One who follows Jesus must be
willing to surrender material comforts and all that “home” supplies you.
d.
Luke 9:59-60 – Let me go bury: Respect for parents was of utmost
importance for Jews, up there with “honor thy father and thy mother.” That
included providing a proper burial, and even priests, normally defiled by
touching a dead body, could bury family members immediately (Lev 21:1-3). Jesus
says to let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Some try to soften
his words, saying the man is waiting for his father to die, but it seems that
the man’s father has already died or is near death. Jesus means for his reply
to be radical, shocking, and countercultural. Jesus’ demand that the son place
Jesus above his responsibility to his father would have sounded like heresy.
e.
APPLICATION: Jesus demands precedence even over
the most important things in your life. A follower of Jesus must be willing to
surrender even the dearest of relationships to give complete allegiance to the
Lord. Those who are insensitive to God can do the routine. Those with a passion
for God will give the Kingdom first place. What about you? Do you get upset
when everything doesn’t go the same old way every time, that something in the
bulletin changes? Or a goof up? Or are you more interested in Christ being
glorified?
f.
Luke 9:61-62 – Let me say goodbye: This statement echoes Elisha’s
request when he was called by Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-20). Jesus plays off that
storyline. Since Elisha was plowing when Elijah found him, Jesus said that “no
one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the
kingdom.” Every farmer knows you must keep looking forward to get a straight
row. Similarly, the disciple who is constantly distracted by past associations
cannot give effective service to the Kingdom. Jesus demands a more rigorous
commitment than Elijah did.
g.
ILLUSTRATION: Remember Lot’s wife? She looked back
(Gen 19:26).
h.
APPLICATION: In each of these cases the obstacle
to discipleship are concern for self, especially one’s own comfort, a group
loyalty that is too narrow. Jesus calls successively in these three cases for
self-denying devotion to the Kingdom of God, absolute priority, and exclusive
attention. Taken together
these three incidents sum up what our decision to follow Jesus as His disciples
involves. We choose his will over our own comfort or even our material
security. We choose His will over even the most intimate of personal and family
relationships. And we give our total, absolute attention to Serving Him..
Invitation:
[1] The Byzantine reading (KJV, NKJV,
etc.) make the connection with Elijah. The RSV, NIV, NASB, etc. leave it out as
well as verse 56.
nice info ...
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing information.. :)