Count the Cost

Introduction: We live in a culture that is overwhelmed with Bibles, Christian book, podcasts, videos, and all kinds of Christian teaching. Sometimes it is difficult to filter through the air waves in order to discover just exactly what it means to follow Jesus. With so many voices, often giving contrasting views, we ask, What does it mean to live as a Christian? Today, we are going to find startling answers to this question, from Jesus Himself.

Read: Luke 14:25-33

Transition: The word that Jesus uses for disciple in this passage is mathetas. It means pupil, follower, or apprentice. Often, those who would follow the teaching of a rabbi in the first century, would be given this title of disciple. Jesus is giving some pin point and riveting clarity to what it means to be His disciple. From this text, we are going to discover 3 truths about being Jesus’ disciple. Notice first of all, being Jesus disciple is not…

1. Not Convenient (vs. 26)

a. Jesus doesn’t share allegiance. He does not follow us. We don't invite Him into our identity, no rather to follow Him is to reject our own life and submit to His. We, come Forsaking all to follow/ come to Jesus. (explain) In comparison to our love, devotion, identification with Jesus... our love for all others, including self, looks like hate. Why would Jesus call for such drastic devotion??

b. Jesus is not a crowd pleaser. He knows full well the nature of humanity. Our inclination to twist things to suit our own sinful desires.

c. Example of twisted devotion: Luke 9:57-62

Luke 9:57–62 ESV

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.” 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.” 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.”

d. Jesus knows that to follow Him is going to be different than the Jewish upbringing they have had. That’s why he warned folks earlier in His ministry when He said… Luke 12:49-53

Luke 12:49–53 ESV

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

d. Explanation: Those to whom Jesus is speaking are going to be first generation followers... In our current situation, we do not regularly experience this kind of division among our families. However, some of you know very well what its like to be rejected, cut off, or not spoken to by your family members because of Christ.

e. Following Jesus is not convenient. Being His follower will be “personally” costly. Notice Jesus repeated emphasis of one’s Own family and own life. This means that following Jesus is personal. He isn’t concerned about the crowds, He is concerned about the individuals within the crowd. Is Jesus calling “you” to follow Him today?

Point: We need God’s grace to open our eyes to the idolatry of convenience. We must be awakened to the reality that following Christ will mean that we cannot follow anyone else.

Transition: Why does Jesus call for such drastic devotion to follow Him? One reason is because, if the people in our life, often those closest to us, ourselves included, are able to delude or direct us away from Christ, And if that's the case then we will certainly not be able to deal with the second aspect of following Him. Not only is being a disciple not convenient, it is also…

2. Not Comfortable (vs. 27)

a. Earlier in Luke’s gospel he recorded Jesus’ call to discipleship this way; Luke 9:23-27

Luke 9:23–27 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

c. Jesus redefines comfort. The cross in the first century was a reference to Roman execution. It was a means of administering the death penalty. Jesus is saying that in order to follow Him, each individual must pick up their own instrument of death and follow him. He is telling the crowd, and you and I today, that we must count the cost of dying for Christ. This reminds me of the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 1:19-21

Philippians 1:19–21 ESV

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

d. Jesus redefines comfort. Because He took the weight of His cross, we are able to bear our own cross and follow Him. When we are the recipients of His work on His cross, it makes the cross that we bear, gain. In Christ, we can following him by taking up the cross daily, dying to our sin daily, and follow him with the comfort of knowing to die is gain.

Application: No one who follows Jesus should expect to have a life free of problems. It has never been the case for Christians to live without suffering, afflictions and trials.

Point: However, when we belong to Christ, the very same problems, and even people for that matter, that often hinder us from following Jesus, become a means of bringing Him glory.

Transition: Now, Notice the two illustrations that Jesus gives in... (vs.28-32) Point: We must count the cost of following to the finish line. Jesus is not calling us to follow Him in order to alleviate immediate temporary struggles, frustrations, or problems. No, He calls us to follow Him to alleviate our eternal problem of sin. Which takes us to our third truth about following Jesus… It is…

3. Is Costly (vs.33)

a. To renounce means to “say farewell to”, or abandon. It comparable to giving a formal good-by speech. Notice, its saying goodbye to “all he has”. Meaning all that we prove our worth by, namely, .... All possessions

b. Apostles as an example: Luke 5:11

Luke 5:11 ESV

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

c. Again, why would Jesus give what seems to be such an extreme explanations of what it means to follow Him? Because He is getting to the roots of our greatest problem. He is exposing the foundation of our deepest need. It is the sin of self-sufficiency. The idolatry of trusting ourselves, our abilities, our people, rather than Christ. Jesus will not share the throne of our heart with anything or anyone.

d. Example: Of Jesus getting to the heart of the problem. See Luke 12:32-34

Luke 12:32–34 ESV

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Transition: Why can’t we just add Jesus to our identity, comfort, stuff? Because true discipleship is abandonment of these idols. Jesus is making a statement of utmost importance. He is teaching the truth repentance and faith. Jesus is getting to the heart of our greatest problem; living independent of God.

He is not just revealing our greatest problem, but He also offers the final solution of His own life so that our sin might be forgiven. For a true disciple, Eventually, the very same people, problems and possessions that must be forsaken in order to follow Jesus , end up becoming a means of bringing Him glory. In Christ, we can lead our families to bring Him glory, we can leverage our careers and possessions to honor and praise Him, Our suffering and trails are His way of producing endurance and faithfulness in us. But they can never rule our heart; this belongs to Christ.

Close with a final Question:

Am I Jesus’ disciple?

The message of the gospel is not convenient or comfortable, but it is clear. The gospel is the good new of the great cost Jesus paid for sinners.

Please listen closely… God is perfect in holiness. We all are guilty of rebelling against him because of our sin and will receive His divine judgment of eternal death. Of hell. The punishment of eternal tournament separated from God.

That is not comfortable or convenient, but keep in mind , When Jesus spoke these words , He was on his journey to Jerusalem where He would give His life as the sufficient sacrifice for our sin. His death was not convenient, or comfortable or cheap. Christ died and rose again to save sinners from this impending judgment. His perfect sacrificial death pays the penalty of our sin so our guilt can be removed.

As a result, By God’s grace through faith in Christ alone, sinners can be redeemed and made right with God. Jews and gentiles alike can have peace with God and enjoy the peace of God provided by Jesus, but it will be through the storm… not around it.

Fear not little flock, those who belong to Christ will eventually enjoy the great blessing of God’s pleasure to give us the kingdom. Will you turn from sin and trust in Christ? If you have not responded to God kindness by trusting in Christ, I pray that today your eyes would be opened and you would call on the name of Jesus and be saved.