WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:09.839 Our passage this morning is one of Jesus' clearest warnings about half-hearted discipleship. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:21.120 At this point in Luke, Jesus turns his face to Jerusalem, where he will go and be crucified in the place of those who call for his crucifixion. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:25.839 You see in verse 51 that he begins to turn his face, and now he's headed to Jerusalem. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:33.280 And in the Gospel of Luke, maybe you've looked at the different Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, not different in content, different in who wrote them. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:39.600 But Luke is unique and that he includes what's called the travel narrative of Jesus. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:51.439 So Jesus' route from his ministry to the cross is covered extensively with a lot of detail in Luke in ways that it's not in Matthew and Mark, the other synoptic gospels. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.600 So Luke includes like the parable of the prodigal son, it's in Luke and it's in Luke alone. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:58.320 The parable of the Good Samaritan, it's in Luke and in Luke alone. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:00.640 Mary and Martha, it's in Luke and Luke alone. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:30.480 And so most likely, I submit to you that what Luke did in writing an orderly account for Theophilus, because Luke didn't follow Jesus himself during Jesus' ministry, was that he went door to door to find out what Jesus did on his way to Jerusalem, who he talked to, what he taught, in order to give Theophilus all he could so that Theophilus, who he writes to, according to chapter one, would be certain concerning the things Jesus taught. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:48.719 Now in Luke chapter 9, we have heard twice explicitly Jesus telling multiple people that he is headed toward being delivered up to be killed and then will raise on the third day. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:02:04.000 Not only has he said his death is near, but he has also said to those who wish to follow after him that they must give up their own lives as well, deny themselves daily, take up their cross, and follow after him. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:11.759 So if you want to be a follower of Jesus, you need to leave your life behind to follow the life of Christ. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:15.439 That's been in front of our faces all throughout chapter nine. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:16.800 Chapter eight was Who is Jesus? 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:40.159 Chapter nine is he is the Son of Man and also the suffering servant, the glorious king from Daniel chapter seven, who rules and reigns over all his creation, but also the one lamb who's come to be sacrificed in the place of sinners, the suffering servant, son of man, and anyone who wishes to follow after him will suffer as well. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:45.360 That's been made abundantly clear in chapter nine. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:03:01.840 So as he turns toward Jerusalem now, we read in verses 57 through 62, this morning's text, three conversations Jesus has with three potential disciples. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.400 That's what this text is this morning. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:11.680 Three conversations with three potential disciples, and there is one critical point. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.759 Don't look back. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:27.759 Jesus has set his face toward the cross, and he encounters people who are not ready to leave their old life behind. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:39.840 Now, it's important you know from the beginning, the issue with each of these men in these three conversations is not that they openly reject Jesus. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.759 No, it seems like they want to follow him. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:55.919 But common cultural obligations just take precedence in their lives. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.120 They want to keep a sort of like veto power over obligation to Jesus. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:07.520 And Jesus says, Okay, you're not ready to follow me. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.280 Jesus has already decided where he's going. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.560 The point of this morning's message is if you're going to follow him there, don't look back. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.360 I'm going to read the text again. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:24.879 If you would follow along in your Bible and just take note of the words and what said. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:27.600 Beginning in verse 57. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:38.240 As they were going along the road, that is, Jesus, his twelve, and probably many, many others, someone said to him, I'll follow you wherever you go. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:45.680 And Jesus replies, Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.240 To another, he said, Follow me. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.439 But that man said, Lord, let me let me first go bury my father. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:57.040 And Jesus replies, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:01.279 But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:09.839 Yet a third said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:19.279 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.120 These are tough words. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:23.600 Let's pray that we might receive them rightly. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:31.040 God, I pray that as I teach this morning, Lord, you would make clear what may not be in your word. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:48.319 Lord, you know more than anyone else in this room my frailty and my fallibility, my sin, and yet this morning I have the stewardship of sharing your word, your infallible, perfect, true word. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.639 So Lord, help me in that endeavor. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:06:08.879 Lord, we want to be the people that we read about in Revelation 14, who at the end of everything are known to be those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:16.000 Even if that's to suffering, to difficulty, to the loss of earthly possessions. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:18.399 Our hope is in you. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.839 Help us, keep us. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:23.199 We pray. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:24.160 Amen. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:26.240 Three main points. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.360 You probably see them in your outline, which you received as you walked in the door. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:37.839 The first is this if Jesus calls you, don't let comfort keep you back. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.879 We'll walk slowly through the passage. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:43.040 This is the first conversation. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:49.759 The first man says to Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:57.519 And at first glance, this seems to be like the ideal disciple. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:59.759 He'll follow Jesus wherever he goes. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:09.360 I mean, I just in my prayer just talked about Revelation chapter 14, the people on Mount Zion, the people with white robes who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:16.160 This seems to be, of course, what Jesus is looking for, who Jesus is looking for. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:24.160 But as we've already said in the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus sees what's beneath the soil. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:28.160 He can diagnose every heart in their response. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:34.560 He, unlike us, knows what's true when we can only see outward signs. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:39.279 And he can see there's a heart that's not sold after him. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.160 That even the statement is half-hearted itself. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.959 Jesus does not immediately celebrate when the man says, I'll go with you wherever you go. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.639 He gives a warning. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.800 Foxes have holes, birds have nests. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.439 I don't have a place to lay my head. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:04.720 Jesus is saying, before you say wherever, you should probably know where, wherever is. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.240 And he says the road's rough ahead. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.080 You sure you want to come? 00:08:54.159 --> 00:09:00.159 Now, the lesson here is not primarily about homelessness, though that's the picture Jesus gives. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.080 I don't have a place to lay my head. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:18.480 He's saying, let's be clear, the glorious king you've read about from Daniel 7, who ascends to the ancient of days, and to him is given the earth and all that's within it, that all nations that come to worship him does not have a home here. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:32.000 Jesus is saying, if you follow me, it's going to cost at a minimum the common comforts that you've come to enjoy. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:34.000 At a minimum. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:36.639 The king doesn't have a home. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:43.120 Well, then his citizens should not expect comfort in this life. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.000 They shouldn't expect better accommodations. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:55.759 We read all throughout the New Testament, of course, written to primarily an audience of believers who are being persecuted. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:06.720 If you ever watch the movie Gladiator, one of my favorites in the movie Gladiator, the beginning, that the Caesar at the very beginning of the movie is Marcus Aurelius. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:12.000 And he's asking, Am I going to be considered the wise, the brutal? 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:18.720 Well, in history, Marcus Aurelius was a Caesar who went after Christians. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.799 Life would be tough for a number of years for Christians. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:29.919 In fact, it's unique when it's not tough for believers. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.960 Persecution, uh, ostracization. 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.639 And Jesus knows that. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:44.000 And Peter, when he writes to the churches dispersed because of persecution that happened in Jerusalem, he writes to the elect exiles of the dispersion. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:44.960 What does he mean by that? 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:50.639 Well, elect meaning people of God, and exiles meaning people who aren't home here. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.120 We are exiles. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:59.519 We live in a unique space between Jesus' first coming and his second coming. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:10.639 We are already the children of God, 1 John chapter 2, verse 28, through chapter 3, verse 3, but we are not yet what we will be when he appears. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:16.559 We are his, but we're not yet home. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:23.440 This world doesn't feel like home in a lot of ways. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:25.440 And you know what? 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.159 Home won't happen until Jesus fully returns. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:32.720 We're exiles. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:38.159 We should conduct ourselves as exiles, pointing others to the king. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:43.200 But not expecting royalty now. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:48.399 Our home is heaven. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.039 And we may not feel at home until then. 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.919 You sure you want to come? 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:02.720 You cannot say, I will follow Jesus wherever. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:10.559 And then add so long as wherever is comfortable for me. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:18.399 You know, Jesus never hid the cost of following after him, ever. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.120 Never did. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.399 Luke chapter 14, a large crowd's following him. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:26.960 He's still headed to Jerusalem, where he will go die. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:38.799 And he turns back instead of saying, and instead of saying, Hey, invite your neighbor next week, he says, unless you're willing to hate your father, brother, mother, sister, you can't be my disciple. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.879 Even your own life. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.000 And you can't be my disciple. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:49.200 Jesus never hid the cost of following after him. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:51.759 We should be careful not to. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:57.919 And we should be suspicious of anything labeled Christianity that does. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:02.240 This has been a concern of my ministry for quite some time. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:17.600 And you've heard about this from me, that we have over time, as the church, undersold the cost of following Jesus and oversold its simplicity. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:26.960 When Jesus says, death is on the table, and the very symbol he gives of what discipleship looks like is a cross you bear. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:37.919 Jesus says, don't keep following me if you want to keep your life on your terms. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:43.039 They're not your terms anymore if you follow me. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.600 Your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.919 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.200 There's an argument made. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.200 Hey, when I'm hungry, I go eat. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:55.759 When I have pleasure in my heart and temptation, I go and fulfill that pleasure. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.679 And what the responses of Paul to the church at Corinth, you know what he says? 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.399 He basically says, you don't own your life. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.120 Jesus does. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.879 Your life is his. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:10.320 You don't call the shots anymore. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.960 Obedience isn't optional. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:18.960 If he's king over parts of your life, he's not king. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:25.440 For Jesus to be Lord at all, he must be Lord of all. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.080 Is he Lord of your life? 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:34.639 There exists no Christianity where Jesus is just savior for your eternity and not Lord of your present life. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.200 That's not a thing. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:54.080 You know, in his ministry, Jesus, hear me clearly, was kind to put before people what they would lose if they follow him. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:08.559 Their own lives. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:39.360 But for all who say the cross is worth Christ, for all who are weary and in need of rest, for all who mourn and long for comfort, for all who fall and desire victory, for all who sin and need a savior, for all who hunger and thirst for righteousness, he says. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:48.559 And my burden is light. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.559 You sure you want to follow him? 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:02.799 Is the weight of this world heavy? 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:05.279 And is Christ worth everything? 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.120 Come. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:17.919 Second conversation he has if tells us that if Jesus calls you, don't let later hold you back. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:26.159 Second individual, he actually says, Follow me, and this guy says, Lord, let me first go bury my father. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.600 Jesus replies, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.120 But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:39.360 Now, there are two ways to understand what at first seems like Jesus' cold remarks. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.399 Two ways of understanding this. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:51.200 The first, which has been proposed and is a popular idea, is that this man, his father, hadn't died yet. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:17:00.879 Because of the fact that he's with Jesus at the moment, maybe there's not yet a corpse at the house. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:04.799 And so he's anticipating the day his father will die. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.799 Soon. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:15.759 And so he says, Well, let me go, let me go back and make sure that's taken care of and do what all I needed all I need to do. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.279 That's the first proposal. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.640 The second proposal is that Jesus or the man's father is dead. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.440 Already dead. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:31.839 He sees Jesus in the way, he talks to Jesus, he says, I want to follow you, but let me go first, handle all that I need to handle. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:36.559 And if that's the case, Jesus' comments are extremely shocking. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.920 One might even argue, in the face of Jewish culture, disgraceful. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:18:07.200 You see in Jewish culture that the priority of caring for one's parents after death was greater than attending synagogue, than sacrificial requirements, and even over obeying certain laws of the week. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:12.559 So which is it? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.480 Well, I think it is number two. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:21.839 I think Jesus' comments are somewhat shocking. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:26.079 What do we make of these comments? 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:28.480 Especially in light of the culture. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:36.000 Well, the man is essentially saying, Let me fulfill this season of my life before I come. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.359 Let me settle some family matters first. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:44.000 Let me figure out the funeral arrangements and what comes after. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:49.920 Let me also figure out how to distribute the inheritance my father leaves for myself and for my family. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.200 Let me go round up the cattle that I need to round up. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:58.640 Let me distribute the cattle where they need to go, and then I will follow. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:07.359 And Jesus shockingly responds and says, Delayed obedience. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.960 The issue is the man saying, Let me first. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.640 Of course it's not. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:28.400 Honor your father and mother, so they may live long in the land the Lord your God has given you. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:30.160 This is one of the Ten Commandments. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.279 The problem is with that one word. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.720 First. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:43.839 Something, uh sometimes good things are placed in front of Jesus. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:48.160 And Jesus won't share first place. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:52.559 Even second place. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.440 He will not share it, even if it's behind good things. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:05.440 You know, sometimes the greatest competitors in our relationship with Jesus aren't bad things. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:10.480 They're good things that have just been put in first place. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:19.200 When good things become first things, they become competing things. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:27.680 And hear me, anything that competes with Jesus for first place must lose, no matter how good it is. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:35.119 Family is good, marriage is good, work is good, education is good, financial responsibility is good. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:42.160 But when Jesus says, follow me, no earthly obligation should take precedence or priority. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:49.839 No obligation determines whether or not we obey Jesus. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.880 This is hard to hear. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:58.319 Jesus says, Let the dead bury their dead, and you go preach the good news of my kingdom. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.160 Well, what you think he's saying is what he's saying? 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:07.039 Jesus is saying, let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:16.160 In other words, let those who are spiritually dead attend to the ordinary things of life they are able to. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:26.400 But you, in this moment, are called to an urgent work, my kingdom. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:29.119 There are things that anyone can do. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:34.079 But this man just heard Jesus say, you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:41.519 According to Jesus, that calling is not only urgent, but ultimate. 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.480 Ultimate. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:53.680 So ultimate that even our most sacred cultural obligations cannot outrank it. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:59.519 Jesus is not dishonoring the man's family, he's just establishing the fact that he has supremacy. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.799 In the life of those who follow after him. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.000 Even in shocking ways. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:14.319 He's putting that before a man who doesn't yet understand that in a shocking way so that the man understands, okay, I'm probably not ready. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:23.839 When Jesus says follow, the right response is never eventually. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.720 Eventually. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:44.400 A lot of people, I think we would agree, don't consciously, immediately reject Jesus. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:54.799 They simply believe or say later. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:11.920 You know, after I graduate college, I'll take the call of Jesus more seriously, or after I get married, or after the kids are older, or after work settles down, or after I get older, when I really need to think through those things. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.119 But you know what? 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:18.720 Jesus says delayed obedience is divided allegiance, and I have to be first. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:33.200 Not yet is one of the most dangerous ways of responding to Jesus saying no. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:42.960 Because you can almost believe in your heart you're still leaving room open for him. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.559 Not yet is just a very dangerous way of saying no. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:56.720 The third, if Jesus calls you, don't let the past pull you back. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:12.079 Verse 61, yet another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:17.359 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand in the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:23.440 This third man wants Jesus while keeping an eye on what he is leaving behind. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.920 And you know what? 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:28.640 This is not an unreasonable request. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.960 Let me go say bye to my parents. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.200 It does not seem unreasonable. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:41.599 Jesus responds, if you're gonna look back, you're not fit. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:53.119 Now, his request does not uh does include some Old Testament precedent. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:57.039 Maybe you know the story of Elijah and Elisha. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:06.480 Well, in the story of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings chapter 19, the prophet Elijah actually calls Elisha Elisha to come and follow after him. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:12.400 And Elisha responds, Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.720 What happens in 1 Kings 19? 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:17.759 Elijah says, Absolutely. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.680 But that's not what happens here. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:27.279 And I think Luke wants us to see a connection with 1 Kings 19. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.720 I genuinely think that. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:35.839 I think in his mind, Luke writing this is thinking through 1 Kings chapter 19. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:46.000 Maybe Jesus explicitly at some point in time makes that connection because this is like a verbal connection to the Greek Septuagint of what is being said in 1 Kings chapter 19. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:52.400 And when Elijah says, yes, you can go handle your affairs and go say bye to your family, Jesus says no. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:57.359 It's not fit for where I'm going. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.440 Shocking. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:07.920 Why the difference between Elijah and Jesus? 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:20.160 Well, Jesus is not merely another prophet calling an apprentice, Jesus is the king calling someone into his kingdom. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:28.480 Jesus is greater than Elijah, and his call is also greater. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:32.799 And the difficulty may also be greater. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:37.359 And the ramifications for not following are greater. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.759 Jesus knows what's ahead. 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:44.480 Elijah didn't know everything that was ahead. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:49.680 Jesus knows that he's calling someone to come and die. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.559 So if you're looking back, you're not ready. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.480 You're not ready. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:57.680 Jesus knows that he's headed to Jerusalem, verse 51. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:05.920 He knows that those who follow after him will die like the eleven did, who didn't, of course, wasn't the one who conspired. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.400 You sure you want to come? 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:11.119 Are you sure? 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:18.640 Jesus alone has the sort of authority that he can say, I must come first, even before your family. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:27.519 He will later say, of course, what I've already quoted to the crowds, following him to Jerusalem in Luke 14, verse 26. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:39.200 If anyone wishes to come after me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:46.720 Jesus anticipates a coming day when following him will cost his disciples their families. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.400 And even today, for some, it does. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:28:04.319 I've had college students who weren't able to go back home without being kicked out of their homes because they live in an environment where Christianity is not tolerated. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:19.519 Christians all over the world are ostracized, yes, even persecuted, by their own families and friends for responding to Jesus' call. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:21.839 The cross is worth Christ. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:28.559 Jesus then said, no one who puts his hand in the plow and looks back. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.400 Okay, you got the picture, right? 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:35.599 As an agricultural reference, if you're plowing, we'll just act like we're mowing. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.160 Right? 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.359 We at least understand that. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.640 We'll act like we're mowing. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:43.519 And you're moving forward, but your face is constantly on what's behind you. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:49.359 It is very difficult not to veer off the path and go a different direction. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:58.240 For example, you're pushing forward, you're turning back, you are moving your body away from the destination to which you were called. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.599 What's the illustration pointing to? 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:13.839 Well, it's pointing to the fact that if you are looking at everything you are leaving behind, you're really not focused on following after Jesus. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:19.039 The pleasures of your former life have taken a hold in your heart and are still there. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:23.920 This is divided allegiance, once again. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:34.640 The person walking toward Jesus while continuing to stare longingly at the life behind them is not totally captivated by Jesus. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:42.480 And it's inevitable that they will eventually veer away from following after him. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:52.960 You can't follow Jesus constantly romanticizing the life you've left behind. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.039 You can't do it. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:05.519 Asking, what could I still have if I weren't obeying Jesus? 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.880 What does that sound like? 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:27.920 Well, it sounds like someone who formerly followed Jesus, but over time their unrelenting appetite for former sin showed that their discipleship was more an interest in the things of Jesus rather than a sold-out heart for Jesus. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:32.799 No one who looks back is fit for the kingdom. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.279 What does that mean? 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.319 Let me be clear. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:31:05.039 He is putting a barrier of what it means to follow him with an uh a clarity in front of the person who wishes to follow him, saying, This is gonna be really, really, really hard. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:09.519 Half-hearted discipleship won't work. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:13.440 You're either in or you're not. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:16.640 I used to say this. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:32.559 I say, if if we, following Jesus' example here, make the entrance of discipleship anything less than a call for people to come to war with their own life, then we've maybe enlisted people who don't know what they're doing. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.759 Deny yourself. 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:37.279 You want to be my disciple? 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:41.839 Take up your cross daily and follow me. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:48.559 The image Jesus gives about is is about whether someone is fit for discipleship. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.599 Are you sure? 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.960 Are you sure? 00:31:52.559 --> 00:32:04.799 He's showing you can't follow me and at the same time reserve the right to turn back when things get hard, and when things, as they get hard, look more attractive behind you than in front of you. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.680 When things looking back are nicer than what lies ahead. 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:18.079 True discipleship is as forward-facing as Jesus is. 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:24.079 Jesus has set his face forward on the cross, and he calls his disciples to bear their cross. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:33.839 So the Christian life is not Jesus plus the life behind you, it is Jesus and whatever lies ahead with him. 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:41.279 Jesus does not call his disciples to admire him, keeping our options open. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:51.119 He calls us to give him our allegiance, leaving everything behind without looking back. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:57.279 So let me ask you a few diagnostic questions. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:01.519 I was asking a few questions. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:11.680 What comfort would make you hesitate to follow after Jesus? 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:17.359 If you're not a follower of Jesus, what comfort would say I can't leave that behind? 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:23.200 Another question. 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:32.160 I gotta do a few things first. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:43.759 What are you still looking back at that makes following Jesus facing forward really difficult? 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:55.920 You know, Jesus can demand your life because he gave you life, but he also deserves your life because he gave his life for you. 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:59.759 Will you follow after him without looking back? 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:04.559 Jesus' faces forward is your face upon him. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:08.159 Don't look back. 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:14.239 I think it's a hymn. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:17.119 What makes something a hymn? 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.559 I don't know that I totally know. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.400 Sam's are still being written today. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:23.519 Hymns are written for a long time, put in a book. 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:32.639 Uh Sam goes something along the lines of acknowledging verses like this Luke 9, Luke 14. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.360 I've decided to follow Jesus. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.679 No turning back. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.079 No turning back. 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.920 I hope that's you.