Slices
Prepare
What is the hardest thing for you at the moment in your walk with Jesus? Ask for his strength and perseverance to keep going.
Bible passage
The cost of being a disciple
25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”
31 ‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
34 ‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; it is thrown out.
‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’
Explore
Seemingly harsh words from Jesus. Is he really asking us to hate others, especially our loved ones? Jesus is using hyperbolic language here. Just as in Matthew 18:8,9 he refers to gouging out eyes and cutting off hands, he is making extravagant statements, not intended to be taken literally but used to emphasise the importance of what he is teaching. Our primary allegiance must be to Jesus, rather than family.
The reference to carrying our cross reminds us that it cost Jesus everything to do God’s will, so it won’t be easy for us. The illustrations Jesus uses of counting the cost (literally) in verses 28–30 and being in charge of an army going to war (vs 31–33) speak for themselves. The final reference to salt (v 34) is a reminder of our need to make a significant difference to others and the world we live in by the way we live – a tough challenge in itself.
‘Salvation in Jesus is not merely a transaction. It is, at heart, a covenantal relationship. And no relationship lasts without loyal commitments and actions… Jesus’ command to “Follow me” is both gift and demand.’*
*Jeannine K Brown, www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-23-3/commentary-on-luke-1425-33
Respond
Following Jesus is all or nothing. Use the opportunity of this new year, with the fresh start that it brings, to re-commit yourself to high cost, whole-hearted discipleship.
Deeper Bible study
Reflect on where following Jesus is costly at the moment. Ask for forgiveness and grace where you’re struggling with that, and for fresh strength to keep going.
Having set his face towards Jerusalem,1 Jesus is walking towards the cross. His choosing to walk the way of the cross is uncompromising. He will not – cannot – allow anything or anyone to stand in his way, as Peter found to his cost.2 Turning to those who would walk this road with him, Jesus challenges them to reflect upon the cost of doing so.
It means, Jesus states, putting the kingdom before family. The hate is not literal, but it’s a powerful way of stating that no other concerns can be allowed to register. Even the legitimate demands of family cannot stop us from pursuing the kingdom. Luke 9:57–62 captures three ways in which these demands are so powerful, constraining those who otherwise desired to follow. We cannot look back over our shoulders when we’ve started to plough, as that means we do nothing well. We have to make the kingdom the first and only priority. Without that clarity, his disciples cannot truly follow him. Walking this path with him, Jesus insists, means embracing suffering. Carrying a cross is burdensome, even if it’s only the cross bar on our shoulders as Simon of Cyrene was forced to do for Jesus.3 Jesus is clearly flagging up that this road is one that would be hard and likely to entail suffering. If they’re not willing to embrace suffering, they should not follow after him as disciples.
What this amounts to, Jesus tells them, is counting the cost. If you can’t complete a tower, don’t start; if you can’t resist an aggressor, sue for the best peace terms you can get. To paraphrase what Jesus says in verse 33, if they cannot wave goodbye to everything they have, they cannot be his disciples.
Joshua 24:15 captures the power of a family or household all pursuing God together. To what extent is that true for you and your household or community?
1 Luke 9:51, KJV 2 Mark 8:33 3 Luke 23:26
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 7,8; Psalms 1,2
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Local Mission Partner Christians and Sheffield Schools as they enable Christians to serve schools through a school chaplaincy course, training, Open the Book groups and Prayer Spaces in schools. Please pray for funding and for the appointment of a new Chair of Trustees.
