Rather, if we already know what is right, and how we mean to give our hearts and lives to Jesus, I think that means that in turn Jesus will expect more from us. If we know Jesus, if we know enough to have decided that we want to follow Jesus, I’m afraid, friends, that this doesn’t mean that Jesus goes easier on us. My mom’s story makes me think about discipleship. But your child knew what was right, and still chose to misbehave.ʺ My mom’s response, as you might suspect, did not win her any points with her friends. When relaying the story, my mom’s friend said, ʺWell, at least I know that my daughter knew better, so that gives me comfort.ʺ My mom said to her, ʺBut doesn’t that make it worse? If the other kid didn’t know better, he can hardly be blamed for his behavior. The woman’s daughter was a church-going child from a fairly well-to-do family, and the other child in trouble was just the opposite. This friend’s daughter had gotten in trouble on the bus at school, along with another young person. ![]() ![]() When I read this passage, I want to say, “Hey Jesus - isn’t at least a good thing that these folks want to follow you? Isn’t it better that they want to follow you but just aren’t quite ready yet, than not wanting to follow you at all?” As soon as I ask that question in my head though, I hear my mother telling me about an interaction with another parent, a friend of my mom’s, years ago. ![]() Some things that just need attending to first so that we can be really ready to start. I agree, don’t you? I want to tell Jesus we have some important things to do sometimes that keep us from following God the way we want. We don’t know what happens next for any of these folks - if they stay with Jesus or if they say “forget it.” The gospel moves on. Are you sure you mean it?” Jesus extends the invitation: “Follow me” to another, and they respond, “Lord, first let me bury my father.” Jesus, apparently unmoved, says, “Let the dead bury their own dead but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” A third offers to follow Jesus, “but first,” he says, “let me say farewell to those at home.” And Jesus responds, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” That’s the whole passage. The first approaches and says, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” In other words, “Anywhere also means nowhere, no landing place. Jesus’s message is getting across, and people are interested. This seems to us perhaps like it would be great news. In Luke’s gospel, we find a series of people approaching Jesus, saying that they want to follow him. Not tough because it is hard to understand, but tough because Jesus’s words cut to my heart with their clarity and urgency, asking for a response. ![]() This week is another week like that for me. And I told them that people often respond this way to a sermon when I also feel that way about it - like I’m speaking, preaching to myself. Someone mentioned to me this week that they enjoyed last Sunday’s sermon, that they felt it was speaking right to them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |