I had never previously considered this topic seriously. Not until I read the notes on this week’s Sabbath lesson, expanding on ones commitment to missions and the work of witnessing and testifying to the work of the gospel to our communities.
The cost of Discipleship is absolute. Jesus did not say that we can sort of follow Him. He did not say that we can retain those things we want, but give up those things we don’t want. Jesus did not say that if we keep some habits, God would understand and let them go. No. The costs of following Jesus were nothing short of complete self denial. I know we’ve heard this before, but how deeply and how seriously do we consider them?
KJV Luke 14:26,27,33…
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
is clear… And absolute. There is no room for half-way half-hearted commitment. It’s all or nothing. We cannot second guess, down play, minimise how serious Jesus is in telling us these conditions and criteria of acceptance.
Jesus demands a devotion and commitment that surpasses our instinct to preserve our own lives. Taking up our own cross is no less than what Jesus, and many more after Him, were willing to do. The difference between everyone and Jesus is we don’t have to bear our sin. But we need to die. If not physically, at the very least emotionally. It’s a sign of submission. It’s a recognition of His true Lordship.
In Luke 14, two absolutes are mentioned in connection with the cost of Discipleship. The first is ‘anyone’, in verse 26, and ‘whoever’ in verse 27. So the costs of Discipleship as detailed by Jesus don’t apply to a select few special holy “saints”. They apply to everyone. Regardless of class, background, social status, financial status, ethnicity.
The second absolute is the essential “renouncing all” … Forsaking all…of verse 33. This does not just mean physically throwing away stuff, but emotionally renouncing all emotional and spiritual connection to those things. They cannot be possessed, or you possess, them at all. There can be nothing that stands in the way of total surrender to the will of God for your life. This is challenging. Your agenda, or His? It is also a warning not to make Christ the means to your own ends. This is what it means for self to die. And it must be done daily. It isn’t a recommendation. Those are absolutes…KJV Luke 14:33
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
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