Deeply Committed

Introduction

Good morning please turn to Luke 9:51-62 that is Luke 9:51-62. That is on page 815 if you are using one of the Bible’s scattered through the chairs that is Luke 9:51-62 on page 815.

When using a compass a navigator must account for magnetic declination. If the navigator does not do this, then over the course of travel he and his party will slowly start to drift off course. A compass uses magnetism to point toward Earth’s magnetic north pole, but because of the angle of the earth this can cause a party to drift off course. Therefore, if navigator is to lead his party to geographic north, he must account for magnetic declination. Which is the inevitable drift of course because the compass points to magnetic north which is slightly off from geographic or “true north” due to the angle of the earth.

I believe the Christian life is similar. As Christians we are following our own internal compass, our conscience and our understanding of God and His commands. However, we know that as sinners, if we don’t give attention to our conscience, if we do not keep growing in our understanding of God, then we will start to drift off course.

This reality is probably why you are here this morning. I know it is why I am here. We need constant reminders, and constant recalibration if we are to follow Jesus. We must recognize the truth that we are works in progress. Our hearts are still prone to wander, we, even as Christians, will drift from the truth from time to time. So, we must account for our declination of heart. We must admit that our sense of north is more like magnetic north. It is vaguely in the right direction, but we need to consistently make adjustments if we are to remain heading toward true north.

As we keep working through Luke we are going to start a new series to recognize a shift in the book. Over the last ten weeks we answered the question: Who is Jesus. He is the Christ of God, but now I want us to shift and ask, what does it mean to Follow Jesus? If Jesus is the Christ of God, then we are to follow him, but what does that mean? This morning we will see that it means we are to be deeply committed to him, and be willing to recalibrate when that commitment wains.

Let’s Read Luke 9:51-62

Committed Because He Is Committed v. 51-56

Jesus has told his disciples twice now, what awaits him in Jerusalem. In Luke 9:22 “Jesus says, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”” and in Luke 9:44 ““Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”” Jesus knows that he will be killed if he goes to Jerusalem, he has discussed his departure with Moses and Elijah, men who lived hundreds of years before on the mount of transfiguration, this departure is His death, resurrection, and ascension. Yet, he still sets his face toward Jerusalem. He willingly walks to his own death.

And he isn’t even helped along the way. He begins his journey and when he comes near to Samaria, he sends messengers to a Samaritan village and they refuse to host him. They know that his face is set to Jerusalem. Many people would have been traveling to Jerusalem during this time in order to celebrate the Passover. Most Jews would just travel around Samaria since Jews and Samaritans hate each other. However, Jesus throughout Luke has been going to gentile or non-Jewish areas and healing the sick and demon possessed. Jesus would have went through this village and probably would have done what he always did. Preach about the kingdom of God, heal people, feed people, and cast out demons. But the Samaritans refuse Jesus, since he is a Jew heading toward Jerusalem.

James and John observe this and they ask Jesus if they call down fire from heaven upon this village. Now, there is zero evidence to suggest that James and John have any experience in burning down villages with fire from the sky. There is nothing about them, that would lead us to think they have the ability to do this. They did just see Elijah and he did call down fire from heaven to burn up a sacrifice to display the power of God over the prophets of Baal, a false God. So maybe this is where they got the idea. But Jesus quickly shuts them down.

None of this detours Jesus, he rebukes them and continues to another village. Why? Because his face was set on Jerusalem. He knew exactly where he was going, and he would not be distracted by petty vengeance. He was committed to the Father’s plan, committed to die for the sins of man and rise from the dead. Jesus, would not stop to strike down his enemies, because he was committed to laying down his life for those enemies. Later in the book of Acts a man named Philip will go to Samaria and he will preach the gospel to the city and perform the works that Jesus, might have done if they had accepted him. And the text tells us Acts 8:8 “… there was much joy in that city.” We don’t know if these particular people would follow Jesus, but we do know that his death and resurrection were necessary if any of the people of Samaria would be saved. Jesus will do what God has called him to do. He will go to Jerusalem, be handed over to sinful men, be mocked, beaten and killed all for our sake. And rise from the dead.

Jesus is committed to the Father’s plan, even when people reject him. People who He will die for. Jesus out of His commitment to the Father’s will is deeply committed to me and you. He is committed to those who place their faith in Him. He died for us, and so that we might now live for him. This is vital if we are understand the next paragraph.

The next paragraph about following Jesus seems extreme. He wants us to follow him even if it costs us our home or our family. What gives him the right to call for such devotion? This is why we must read the end of Luke 9 remembering all we learned so far about Jesus. Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, he has authority over sickness, demons, storms, and sin. We have seen his glory as he raises the dead and is changed on the mount of transfiguration. He is the Christ of God. And not only is he God who has authority over everything, he is God who cares for the sick, the possessed, and the sinner. He is the one who set his face toward Jerusalem to die a death he does not deserve to save sinners like us.

We are deeply committed to him, because he was first deeply committed to us. He would not be distracted by vengeance or a powerful work of calling fire down from heaven. Instead, he came down from heaven to die for men, rise, and then ascend into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

Our concern is not to be on the fire that could fall from heaven, but on the Son of man who would be raised and ascend into heaven. He is committed to us, and thus we can be committed to him, even unto danger and discomfort.

Committed Unto Danger and Discomfort v. 57-58

Jesus continues on the road and a man shouts that he will follow Jesus wherever he goes. And Jesus explains that Foxes have holes and Birds have nest, but the son of man has no place to lay his head. That if you follow him, you will not have a guarantee of a place to sleep.

I do not believe this is a universal call to homelessness. But rather, we need to consider what a Fox’s hole does, what a bird’s nest does, and what it might mean for us to be willing to give this up in order to follow Jesus.

A fox and a bird find safety and comfort in their hole or nest. These are the places where they have their babies, hide from predators, sleep at night, are protected from the wind, rain, and snow. And Jesus is saying if you follow me, you might not be safe. You might not have access to the safety of a home. Following Him, will from time to time lead to some danger.

In C.S. Lewis’s children’s story the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the Pevensie children meet Mr. And Mrs. Beaver and they are told of the great and powerful Aslan. A lion who will come and free them from the tyranny of the evil white witch. In the conversation, Lucy Pevensie asks this about Aslan, “Then he isn’t safe?”… “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

If wish you to live a safe life free of discomfort and difficulty you come to the wrong place. Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but he son of man has not place to lay his head. Following Jesus will not always be safe, but it will always be right because He is good.

What makes you feel safe? What brings you comfort? And it is possible that these things cause you to drift. It is not wrong to own a home, have a savings account, or a retirement plan. It is not wrong to take care of your body, eat healthy foods, save for your kids education, desire to live in a safe neighborhood, or homeschool your kids. But many of us do these things as a means to feel safe. Safe from financial ruin, the unknown of the future, from cancer or other physical problems. Christians must always remember that our ultimately safety is found in Christ and the eternal life He promises.

Houses, savings accounts, and even our very bodies are all temporal. None of them will last. Jesus will last. He isn’t safe, but he’s good and he is worthy. That which we find good or worthy, is that which we will find to be safe.

Would give up your plans, the place you live, your comforts if it meant you would be more effective for the kingdom of God? Would you follow the one who set his face to Jerusalem… to pain and death for the sake of others. Fox’s holes and birds have nest, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Will you follow him?

This type of commitment is extreme, because if forces us to be committed to Jesus as our Primary Duty.

Committed To Him as our primary duty v. 59-60

This time Jesus calls out to a man and says, Follow me. The man replies and says, he first must go and bury his Father. Jesus responds, “let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Well, just as the last example was not a call to universal homelessness this is not a call to skip your parents funeral.

But rather these examples are showing us what are to be the primacy of our devotions. We are to be more devoted, or committed, to Jesus than anything else. Burying your family members in Jewish culture was considered the most sacred of duties. Men were expected to honor their Father’s by ensuring their proper burial. But Jesus is saying, following me is more important than even than this sacred duty. This is a play on words. Jesus is saying that those who do not follow Him are spiritually dead. They are just as dead this man’s Father. So, he says let those who are spiritually dead bury the physically dead.

You, who have been made alive in me, you are to to go and proclaim the kingdom of God. This instills us the urgency and fervor that we are to have when it comes to seeing the gospel spread. The proclamation of the kingdom of God is more important than burying the dead. Why? Because the dead are already dead. The living are still spiritually dead, but through the Gospel they can be made alive. The encounter is telling us, don’t waste time on the dead, rather go and preach life to the living.

We are in desperate need of a war time mentality. Fellow soldiers don’t stop fighting in the middle of battle to mourn fallen comrades. In more than one war film we have watched a friend die, only for a commanding officer to grab the young solider by the arm and say “keep moving, there’s nothing you can do for him now.” In the heat of battle, soldiers must keep going to survive and win.

We are still in the heat of battle. There are souls on their way to hell, and we must keep going. We must keep proclaiming. Don’t get distracted by anything that is already dead, or that which will cause you to die. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ….

Sin kills, apathy kills, cowardice kills, these are dead things. Let them bury their own dead, but as for you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. This is your primary duty, Jesus our primary relationship

Committed to Him above all others v. 61-62

Another person tells Jesus that they will follow Him. He just wants to go back and say goodbye to those at his home. Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””

I think my mom would be so mad at Jesus. She’d be like, “you could have at least said goodbye!” “Actually he said I couldn’t!” That if I looked back I wasn’t fit for the kingdom of God.

The reality is, you cannot plow straight lines if you are consistently looking behind you. If we set out to follow Jesus we must resolve to follow him. We cannot return to our old way of life. Our familial ties are no longer found primarily in our earthly families. We are a part of a new family, the family of God. And from time to time you might have to choose which family has your greater allegiance. Jesus is saying your commitment to me needs to be greater to than your commitment to anyone else.

In the gospel of Mark Jesus has an encounter with a rich young ruler. This rich man claims to have obeyed all of the ten commandments and wants to know what else he lacks. So, Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and give it to the poor. Then come follow Jesus. This rich young man walks away from Jesus because he has many possessions. He doesn’t want to give up everything to follow Jesus. After, this exchange as a subsequent explanation that only God can change us to the point of giving up everything Peter and Jesus have a discussion and say this, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Jesus makes a promise that if you forsake your family, your house, or lands that you will receive in this life hundredfold with persecutions and in the next age eternal life.

This is because when you follow Jesus you get a new family in his church and that family is a global family. The call to discipleship is a call to abandon our earthly identity and become defined by our relationship to Christ, his church, and the future promise of eternity. It’s extreme, but it's the call for unnamed and everyday disciples. Not just missionaries or church planters.

You are a part of new family. Set your hand to the plow and don’t look back.

Conclusion

In many ways this is a shocking text. It is a confrontational text. The kind of commitment Jesus asks for seems like too much. But can we really be surprised? What do we expect to encounter if we follow the man who set his face toward certain ridicule and death. If you follow the one who’s face was set to death, then you should expect to die too. But he did not only set his face toward death. He also set it to resurrection. If we die to this world and its way, and then can be sure that we will rise with him. The costs of discipleship may seem like too much, but we must remember the supreme worth of Christ. We are deeply committed to Him, because He is deeply committed to us. In Christ we will receive 100 hundred fold that which we loose in the age to come.

I want close by reading a letter from Adoniram Judson, the father of modern missions, which he wrote to his father-in-law before asking for his first wife Nancy’s, hand in marriage he writes, “I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”

This is a man who understood what it meant to set his hand to the plow, to let the dead bury their own dead, to not have a place to lay his head. He was willing to lead his wife into these difficulties because he knew that a greater glory awaited them both. One day their efforts to expand the kingdom of God would result in, “a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means”