The Cost of Following Jesus (KJV)

Today we approach a somewhat perplexing piece of scripture. It is perplexing for two reasons. One Jesus has a large crowd in which he seems to discourage from following him around.

I mean this is a total foreign concept to us as american Christians. In the american ideal isn't more always better?

Secondly, Jesus seems to recognize that not all of his admirers or fans actually have any real intention of heeding his instructions.

I mean if we think about it, It is a really strange phenomenon. People are willing to follow him around for days at a time, yet the message ultimately falls on deaf ears.

If they admired him enough to hear him speak in inconvenient situations, than why weren’t they willing to imitate him?

Let’s explore today’s text together and search for the answers.

Luke 14:25 KJV 1900

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Notice that he stopped to say these things not to gather a crowd but rather because their was a great crowd.

Jesus did not shy away from stating truth to keep a crowd. In fact, he used the opportunity to teach and share the hardest truths.

This is not the American way of thinking is it? We are taught to avoid offense at all cost.

Often we allow ourselves to be pressured into silence when we are out numbered.

Truth is never dependent on the majority. A crowd is an opportunity not a barrier to the truth.

A crowd should be seen as a platform. Of course I am not saying we intend to be inflammatory. We don’t have to be, the truth inflames as it is.

So lets look at this hard truths together.

Luke 14:26–35 KJV 1900

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. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

This is hard passage of scripture.

Hard Truth #1

In order to follow Jesus you must give Him priority.

Luke 14:26 KJV 1900

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.

There is no room for divided loyalty among the disciples of Christ.

The word “hate” as it is used through out scripture does not always refer to malice, bitterness, or ill-will.

This becomes obvious from other teachings of Jesus from the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 5:44 KJV 1900

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Jesus is not referring to the type of hate that involves malice and unforgiveness nor is he referring to a state of emotion, but rather a state of mind.

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible Hate

While the Hebrews naturally had a whole range of such emotions ranging from outright death-seeking malice to mere preference, disregard, and rejection, they had no suitable words to express different shades of meaning. Thus words such as “love” and its opposite “hate” (Heb. kānēʾ; Gk. miséō) were used to express the idea of preference.

In calling people to Himself Jesus is stating your going to have to make up your mind of where your priorities lie.

A call to discipleship is a call to undivided devotion. This means that you will have to prioritize following Jesus above even the approval of your own family.

Why? because even in the church their are families who are fans and admirers of Jesus, but are not disciples.

Their devotion to the savior begins and ends with an hour on Sunday Morning. The purpose of discipleship is not to perfect your church attendance, increase your knowledge or even to just live a better more moral life. Those are the elementary things. The point of discipleship is to be like Jesus both in lifestyle and in mission. To fully live for His mission and purpose.

Because of this:

Some will have to decide weather they will follow the pattern of their family,even church family or will choose to be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus calls us into a true devotion to him.

Trans: Which leads us to Hard Truth #2. This one actually begins in the second part of verse 26.

—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 KJV 1900

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Hard Truth #2

To carry ones cross means to choose the instrument of death that would bring new life.

When we look at the account of Jesus death he carried the very instrument that would be used to take his life, the cross.

Yet it was the very means by which eternal life would be given to all who believe.

It is in this likeness, our faith demands us to die to self and yet in this death is granted new life in Christ.

In this we realize our faith will often be the very thing that causes us trouble in this world.

The cross we bear is our faith. It causes us to die to self. Your faith will cause you to endure suffering in this life.

Yet in the same way a faith that leads to repentance and death to self will grant you eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You cannot be His disciple if your faith is one that avoids death to self.

Hard Truth #3 Discipleship Requires an intentional advanced commitment.

Luke 14:28–33 KJV 1900

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

This section of the passage creates an interesting tension. It seems that these two scenarios create the following two questions.

The first one is

Can I afford to follow Jesus?

While the second is

Can I afford to not follow Jesus?

In the first scenario Jesus gives us the example of a man who is going to build a tower. Most likely the imagery is that of a guard tower.

He states that anyone who takes on such a massive undertaking should first investigate weather or not they can afford to be committed to the project.

In other words as one commentator puts it:

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke 3. The Cost of Being a Disciple (14:25–35)

discipleship requires a conscious advance commitment, made with a realistic estimate of the ultimate personal cost.

And this idea is consistent with the previous teaching. He is saying look to be my disciple means that you must put me above even your highest earthly priority even your own life.

Consider this before you claim you want to follow me.

We see this idea in other instances of scripture as well.

Matthew 8:18–20 KJV 1900

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

The assumption is that he turned back.

But then we see this next illustration of two kingdoms at war. When one realizes that he cannot afford the battle he sends out an emissary to secure peace.

In the first scenario one should consider weather or not they have truly committed themselves and in the second we see one should consider weather or not he can afford the war.

In this we see this unique tension. On the one hand it will cost you everything and on the other you cannot afford to not be at peace with God.

While you are expecting me to now ask have you counted the cost?

Are you truly committed to being a disciple?

There is another question I want to address in the American church that seems to be limiting our commitment and effectiveness as disciples.

It seems that sense we have often divorced the gospel from discipleship.

We find that instead of asking the question I just mentioned; our way of life suggest that we are asking the following one instead.

What is the least I can commit too and still make it into heaven?

Because we mostly focus on our salvation we do not often take seriously this idea of discipleship.

If I were to ask the question, In the honesty of your heart, How many of you have been saved? probably most of us would raise our hands.

But if I were to ask how many of you, in the honesty of your heart are so committed to the discipleship process that you have already made up your mind to sacrifice everything for it?

How many could raise your hands?

Do you see how often the church is focused on the minimum requirements instead fully surrendering our lives to Christ and his mission?

So my question to you this morning is not to question your salvation, but rather your focus.

How many of us would say today that because of our salvation, because we feel we have secured eternity, we have not taken this teaching of discipleship seriously?

It’s almost as if our attitude is one of…I can have the best of both worlds. I can enjoy my present life the way I want too and then enjoy heaven as well later.

In Christ God has created you to be so much more than to live for the minimum.

But if this is the path you ultimately choose. He ends with this warning.

Luke 14:34–35 KJV 1900

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Your life could have little value in the kingdom of God. This isn’t to say God doesn't love you or that you are necessarily lost. We are not saved by works although scripture is clear a regenerate person will bear fruit.

This next passage of scripture seems to indicate there will be those who are in heaven that forfeit their reward.

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 KJV 1900

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

When we understand the goodness of God’s grace that even those who wasted their life and will receive no reward can be saved.

What fear do you have in committing to such a gracious king?

What’s holding you back from becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

This passage shows us their are no partially commited disciples. Let the knowledge of the kindness and grace of God drive out any fear of a life committed to him.