June 26, 2022
Pastor John Hering
Luke 9:51-62
Luke 9:51-62
51 When the days were approaching for him to be taken up, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They went and entered a Samaritan village to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
55 But he turned and rebuked them. “You don’t know what kind of spirit is influencing you. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s souls, but to save them.” Then they went to another village.
57 As they went on the way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Another man also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those at my home.” 62 Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Scripture gives many examples of people who followed the Lord, but they all have something in common. They weren’t fit to follow the Lord. They weren’t superstars, super-famous or super talented. God called lowly shepherd, stinky fishermen and prostitutes to follow him. Moses couldn’t speak, Martha couldn’t focus, Jonah was a scaredy-cat, and Sarah couldn’t have children. However, all of them were called to follow the Lord. The point of today’s worship theme is clear—The life of a follower of Christ is a life of self-denial. That’s why lepers were closer to Jesus than most religious leaders and naïve children understood more about the kingdom of God than the experts in the law. It wasn’t a matter of talent. It was a matter of a spirit-led choice. Following the Lord isn’t about making excuses about something you’re just not good at. It isn’t even thinking about something you’d like to improve someday. Following the Lord means recognizing the opposition you face and prioritizing the demands of life. And to follow the Lord we want to realize our weaknesses and focus on the amazing love Jesus has for us. Then we will be equipped to
Serve the Lord With Unselfish Love
When Faced with the Opposition of Unbelievers
When this account takes place Jesus is completing his ministry to the north and focusing his mission in Jerusalem. Jesus knew exactly where he was in the Father’s plan to save the world.
“51 When the days were approaching for him to be taken up, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem.”
Luke 9:51
The Lord Jesus made a resolute decision to serve his Father in Heaven with Unselfish Love even in the face of enemy unbelievers. Even knowing this, Jesus made the firm decision to continue his mission.
“52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They went and entered a Samaritan village to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.”
Luke 9:52-53
Jesus sent messengers ahead to make arrangements for his lodging. However, the people refused to allow Jesus or his followers to stay with them. No surprise to us, since we know how the Samaritans and Jews hated each other. But, Jesus continued on his journey with Unselfish Love even when faced with the Opposition of Unbelievers. But, this wasn’t the choice or the attitude of the disciples.
“54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. “You don’t know what kind of spirit is influencing you. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s souls, but to save them.” Then they went to another village.”
Luke 9:54-56
Seeing the unfriendly attitude of the Samaritans, and knowing that in the Old Testament Elijah had called down fire from heaven to consume the soldiers of the unfriendly king, they thought it would be appropriate to do the same. Jesus corrected their request with a strong rebuke. The situation of Elijah was much different than their situation. In Elijah’s situation he was acting against a king who had hardened his heart against God for a long time in spite of many warnings. At this time, Jesus had come to call people to repentance and to rescue them from sin and damnation. Yes, Jesus’ time to judge all people would come in the future, so for now Jesus and his disciples would lodge at another village. God is patient and gracious indeed!
That is the lesson for us as well. Jesus shows us that he wants us to be patient and bringing the gospel to people. Our purpose is not to destroy people, but to bring them the Good News of Jesus to save them. Using force will not bring people into the kingdom of God. Jesus knew where he was going to suffer and die for all people and continued on even When Facing the Opposition of Unbelievers. Yes, there would be ridicule, shame and suffering at their hands, but Jesus continued to Serve His Father With Unselfish Love.
We will face similar rejection in our day. How vital for us to pray for a spirit of love to rule our hearts rather than a spirit of revenge. How important for us to have a humble attitude, and yet a determined attitude to proclaim the powerful Word of God to the people in our lives. Our prayer is that the powerful Word of God would create faith in their hearts and bring them into God’s kingdom. However, sadly, if it becomes clear that people of a certain place reject the message of Jesus Christ, we also need to go to another place. But, we will leave the final judgment in the hands of our God.
Trans: Just like Moses, Martha, Jonah and the sinners who met Jesus, we also learn that every Christian is called to follow Jesus and the requirements for following him. It can be summarized like this: Serve the Lord With Unselfish Love when faced with the Opposition of Unbelievers, and
When Faced with the Demands of Earthly Needs.
We have three people who came to Jesus and wanting to follow him, but they also had some earthly priorities to deal with.
“57 As they went on the way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57-58
Jesus knew this person didn’t totally understand where Jesus had to go. Neither did this person understand what it would take to get there. Jesus responded by using this title, “Son of Man.” This title for Jesus emphasizes his lowly humanity over his exalted divinity. Jesus would humble himself to endure hardship and suffering, mock trial and beating all the way to the cross. Is this really where the person wanted to go? No way! But, Jesus points out that often times his followers are not willing to even settle for much less. Jesus is the creator of all things and enjoyed fewer privileges than most human beings, or even animals like foxes and birds! Jesus’ point: his followers must be willing to do with less when faced with prioritizing their earthly needs. That begs the question for us all—Shall we enjoy an easy life without following Jesus, or a hard life following Jesus?
If you’re like me, you have all too often chosen the easy way. Then what happens? The easy way is lined up on both sides with Satan’s temptations, curses of sin and separation from God. That’s why Jesus had to do what we couldn’t do. Jesus did travel the path of poverty, of lowliness and of shame for you and me. He did what our sinful nature will never do! Jesus chose his lowly path in order to choose us, choose to take our punishment for sin, choose to receive the wrath of God and free us from our guilt. Jesus prioritized his life in death so that his true treasure would be the resurrection from the dead that paves the way to eternal life for us. He chose us first by perfectly prioritizing our heavenly needs against his earthly needs. And what is our response? We get to Serve the Lord with Unselfish Love from our hearts of thanks.
The second person was asked by Jesus:
“59 He said to another man, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:59-60
No, Jesus is not that cold hearted. But he is dead serious. You see, in the very next chapter Jesus is ready to send out the 72 followers to various places and villages where he was about to visit. The urgency of Jesus to continue on his mission could not be hampered by anything or anyone. So, if this man left to bury his father he wouldn’t be available to follow Jesus. And according to Jewish law, burying his father would also make this person unclean for a week. There is also this point: Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” Obviously a physically dead person can’t bury another physically dead person. But, a spiritually dead person could bury a spiritually dead person. It appears the dead father was an unbeliever. There was nothing more anyone could do for him. But, Jesus tells the man what is the most important priority when it comes to our earthly needs—“ but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” This would make an eternal difference for those who heard the powerful Gospel of Jesus.
The application for us is real. When we attend funerals we don’t want to offering empty words to try and help the grieving cope. No, we want to prioritize the Gospel of Jesus to make an eternal difference in their lives. No doubt there are sentimental events in your life, that when we are honest with ourselves, we have to ask if those events are getting in the way of following Jesus. The second follower of Jesus must face his sentimental desires and decide whether to follow or not.
The third person is facing the prioritizing of his family verses following Jesus.
“61 Another man also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those at my home.” 62 Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61-62
Jesus is making reference to a farmer who is plowing his field and making every effort to plow in straight lines. Looking around or behind is going to distract his plowing in straight lines. You get this if you’re driving and distracted by your phone, or reaching in the back seat to get something. If this follower went back to his family would they really let him leave? Would the person have the ability to say goodbye? Here is the choice: Do I turn back to the comfort and familiarity of the past or face the challenge of following God into the unknown and unfamiliar, where he calls us to go? For some of us this means a difficult decision between family and faith.
Just think of Abraham when he was called by God to leave his hometown and travel to the unknown place God told him to go. There is an important lesson for us here. Jesus gave us the Great Commission to go and proclaim his Word. The blessings Jesus has planned is not tied to staying in one comfortable location, but giving of our time and energy to go on an exciting journey where the Word of God changes the eternal life of people. The Lord does not call us to do something that he doesn’t also give us the ability to do it. It means prioritizing our earthly needs and serving the Lord with unselfish love.
The Bible is filled with people who were unfit to follow Jesus. Abraham & Sarah, Moses, Martha, and Jonah. But, they all were made fit by the Lord God to carry out the work he gave them to do. Just like them, when we fail we have our Savior who served his Father in heaven with perfect Unselfish Love. It is Jesus who is our strength and gives us the ability to follow his holy will. Yes, we will face opposition by unbelievers and will need to prioritize our earthly needs and needs of people around us. God chose us in Christ. May we all choose to Serve the Lord with Unselfish Love. Amen.
