The Cost of Following:

Context:

• In the Luke account, Christ’s time drew near. 
• Christ set his face to go to Jerusalem.
• The people in a Samaritan village were no help.

Luke 9:57-58 “...As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head...”

Matthew 8:19-20 “...And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head...”

How did Jesus respond to those who were sure they could “follow wherever”?

What is it like to depend on others?

What is it like to have no consistent place to call home?

Does Jesus call people to this type of life?

What necessities do we think we can’t live without?

• Can we follow Christ and still seek worldly advantages?

Luke 9:59-60 “...To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God...”

Matthew 8:21-22 “...Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead...”

How did Jesus respond to those who had business to complete before following?

• Jewish burial custom involved an initial burial, but additional attention one year later, when the flesh had rotted off the bones and they were reburied in a special box.
• This person’s father may have been close to death, but not actually dead.
• Does business always take too long?
• How does the world’s business interfere with kingdom business?

Luke 9:61-62 “...Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God...”

How did Jesus respond to those who wanted to “say farewell”?

• Looking back usually leads to drawing back.

• 1 Kings 19:19-21 “...So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him...”

Does following Jesus require more immediate response than following a prophet?

Are we almost, or altogether, followers of Christ?

Was following Jesus at this point more pressing because of where He was going?

How pressing is what Jesus wants accomplished right now?