The Test of Discipleship

The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost of Discipleship

[18] Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. [19] And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” [20] 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.” [21] Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [22] And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” ( ESV)

Great crowds are following Jesus; their numbers have grown, perhaps, due to the word of His healing acts getting out. There are all types following him; but here in our text this morning we see two men who express their desire to be Jesus’ followers, his disciples, to be more than casual onlookers, but to actively learn from Jesus. In that day, you attached yourself to a teacher and basically lived with him, followed him about, sat and listened and interacted with him. This was not an academic course, not a series of lectures, but a way of life to learn. Theory and practice. Wisdom does not come by uploading a database of information and aphorisms; it comes through learning principles, meditating upon them, learning to practice them, and constant review and revising of one’s thinking and conduct to this teaching.

We're presented with two men who are disciple candidates and Jesus' probing responses to them. Here Jesus is teaching us some basic things about what it is to be his disciple.

Disciple candidate # 1 - enthusiastic – He is too quick in promising.[1] This scribe, a learned member of the Pharisees, wants to follow Jesus. No doubt he has searched the Scriptures, for he is one versed in them by his profession. He has seen and heard Jesus’s teaching and mighty works. He is convinced that he must learn from Jesus, must follow him. There is no doubt of this scribe’s sincerity.[2] He pledges to follow Jesus wherever he goes. He is at a crossroads. “What will he do with what he has seen and heard? How will he relate it to what he already knows? How will it affect his beliefs and behavior [from now on]? Does he really understand what following Jesus entails”[3] to be his disciple? Maybe his desire is to study for a while under Jesus. He calls him “teacher.”

But to be Jesus’ disciple requires not just a commitment to study what he teaches, but to embrace what he teaches. And more than that, to embrace Jesus himself as Messiah, as Savior and Lord. At bottom, a true disciple of Jesus is one who actually and really commits himself to the rule of God and the Lordship of Jesus, who personally embraces this gospel of the kingdom AND its king, who sees the grace of God and repents accordingly, and who shows his gratitude for this grace and love for Jesus by obeying the law he expounds.[4]

In one of my favorite science fiction novels, Starship Troopers, a highschooler, Johnny Rico, and some of his friends consider joining the military to fight off-world against an alien threat. At the recruiting station, they find a multiple amputee recruiting sergeant manning the desk; he doesn’t play up the glories of life in the service, but the hardships. It seems that he is intent on not enlisting them. Coming face-to-face with his grievous wounds, they are confronted with the cost and potential costs of service. Recruits are wanted who come, eyes wide open and of sound determination. It is somewhat the same here.

Being Jesus’ disciple is no piece of cake. It means not being with the “in” crowd, it means that to identify with the Son of Man – that one who is God’s son, with majesty and power and authority, and with his humanity and deprivations, of suffering and humility. It means being with him the good times, and when the going gets tough. No fair weather disciples. It is “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

Bonhoeffer said, “only he who obeys truly believes, and only he who believes truly obeys.” It is not a “works righteousness” to win God’s approval, but is a response to his grace by which we are saved. The disciple is not working up to the cross; he has been to the cross for forgiveness and is working out from the cross, expressing new life in Christ.[5] This Jesus is worthy of our unconditional trust, even if it means giving up earthly security and comforts. Following Jesus may mean losing everything in this world. Jim Elliott wrote “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to get that which can never be taken away.” You may lose everything in this world, but he is enough.[6]

So, it is a question of priorities, a question of values. What is the value of God’s Kingdom and God’s Messiah to you? If we recognize Jesus’ sovereign authority in the world, it should lead to giving him total allegiance in your life. His demands of us are personal and costly.[7] This is serious business! His authority is not to be toyed with. J. C. Ryle once said, “Nothing, in fact, has done more harm to Christianity than the practice of filling the ranks of Christ’s army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession, and to talk fluently of his ‘experience.’” He goes on to point out that “numbers alone do not make strength,” and advises, “Let us tell them plainly that there is a crown of glory at the end; but let us tell them no less plainly, that there is a daily cross in the way.”[8]

Disciple candidate #2 – Too slow in performing[9] – In Luke’s account, this man has heard Jesus’ summons, “Follow Me.”[10] He calls Jesus “lord” or “master.” The particulars of this request can be interpreted two ways:

a) The man’s father has died, so this request is to tend to his father’s burial, and then he’ll return and follow Jesus; or,

b) His request is to delay entry into the following of Jesus as his disciple until his commitment to his father is fulfilled. He may be still alive, so what is requested is that he be allowed to tend to his father’s care and burial and wrapping up of his estate.

If the man’s father had recently been deceased, the culture would have expected the son to have remained at home to mourn. It seems more the case that the father is still living and that this man is asking for “delayed entry enlistment” into being a disciple of Jesus.

Whichever is the case, it seems to be a reasonable request, and certainly in line with the requirement of the fifth commandment to “honor your father and mother.”

Another aspect of this request involves inheritance – if this man is the eldest son, he inherits a double portion of the estate. He is asking to defer his discipleship until he is financially settled. If he chooses to follow Christ now, he loses out on his family inheritance.

Jesus’ response is somewhat shocking: [22] And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

What Jesus is saying is “let that matter look after itself.”[11] Remember when He said in the Sermon on the Mount,

[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ( ESV)

The problem isn’t attending one’s parents’ funerals or caring for them in old age. Donald Carson says, He uses this shocking language to highlight the danger of trying to negotiate, to qualify, one’s discipleship. When Jesus uses similarly drastic language back in , he isn’t advocating self-mutilation. His point is that sin must be dealt with radically, at its root, even if such dealings are costly.[12] If concern for parents becomes an excuse for not following Jesus, or for delay in following Jesus, then concern for parents, as important as it is, is being too highly valued.[13]

Remember, Jesus is not being insensitive; he isn’t disregarding the commandment to honor one’s father and mother. It all revolves around a matter of priorities. The man, by this request, is planning not to follow Jesus at this point![14] If the man’s desire is to see himself first settled, financially, after taking care of his father, then, “Let goods and kindred go,” isn’t in his immediate plans. A delayed obedience, is no obedience. He seeks a more convenient time.[15] He says, “Lord, let me first…..” First place belongs to the Lord – you shall have no other gods before me. Following Jesus is not a selective thing, nor a negotiable thing.

And this leads to the question: Who is it who can command such allegiance, such following? It is allegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His authority is not derived from this world, His kingdom is the kingdom of heaven, which rules over all. It is that loyalty to Jesus takes precedence over all other relationships. We seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness; all the rest will fall into place. Not necessarily nicely and neatly all the time, but it does realign our priorities. Jesus is challenging those who are disciples in name to become disciples in fact.[16]

We need to remember, Jesus is not begging for followers here in . He is calling on people to repent and believe the Gospel. What he’s doing is probing the would-be disciples here, seeing if they understand what it means to follow him, if they have romanticized ideas of what it means to be his disciple, to see if they are “all-in.” What we are confronted with is the “sheer authority” of Jesus. Whoever dares make to allegiance to family secondary to allegiance to him is either a lunatic or someone with authority nothing less than divine; for only to God could such supreme loyalty be rightly due.[17]

Jesus is worthy of our undivided attention.[18] First and foremost must be that absolute commitment to Him. He is the Son of Man, the Son of God. All other earthly obligations must fall in line after that fact.

Jesus will say that the demands of one’s own family will pose one of the most serious obstacles to true discipleship -- [37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ( ESV)

Jesus is telling us that far more urgent matters require this man’s attention. Submit yourself to God’s rule, and do his will. He is saying to us, “Demonstrate that when you call me Lord, you mean it by giving me your highest and lasting allegiance, and doing what I say.”[19]

We saw last week that the miracles of Jesus are to elicit a response from us. We may be wowed and dazzled by them. Being impressed, even taken, with Jesus’ teaching is not enough. That we bow to the authority of Jesus as expressed in that teaching and in those miracles is the proper response. Submitting to that authority is a serious matter. When we choose Christ, it is over comfort, culture, family ties and the familiar; over language, our preferred standard of living, political stability, and a host of other issues. Some of you have had friends and family turn on you when you became Jesus’ disciple. It has cost you dearly, indeed, you may still be paying the price. Following Jesus is personal and costly.[20] And you can say that in following Jesus, you have, in the words of William Borden, that you have No reserve; no retreat; no regrets!

John MacArthur -- Coming to Christ is coming on his terms, not our own. The person who comes to Christ comes in humility, meekness, a needy beggar in spirit who hungers and thirsts for God’s righteousness, who cries for mercy, and is willing to be hated, reviled, and persecuted for the sake of his Lord. The Lord may not take away comforts, money, or relationships with others, but all of those things – and everything else besides—must be given over to Him, to do with as He pleases. Otherwise He is not Lord, how much allegiance to Him is professed.[21]

Do you see this Jesus as worth it?

[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, [46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. ( ESV)

The love of Christ constrains us, moves us and motivates us. We have heard of this wondrous love; it has been written on our hearts. When he speaks, we obey, for he warrants our unconditional trust and undivided attention. When this Jesus speaks, leprosy, paralysis, and fever obey Him. The question for us is, “Do I obey Him?” This Jesus took our nature. Took our sin. Took our shame. He offered Himself as our sin offering. He bore our sins and bore them away. He tasted death and defeated it. It is right that we follow this Jesus.[22] In all things he must be preeminent in our lives. This love demands our soul, our life, our all.

[1] Carson, Jesus’ Confrontation with the World, 178.

[2] Chamblin, 509.

[3] Chamblin, 509.

[4] See Chamblin, 510.

[5] Augsburger, 114, 115.

[6] Platt, 112.

[7] Carson, Jesus’ Confrontation with the World, 177.

[8] Ryle, Matthew, 59. Also, cf. Morris, 203, note.

[9] Carson, Jesus’ Confrontation with the World, 178.

[10] .

[11] Chamblin, 512.

[12] Carson, 180.

[13] Carson, 180.

[14] Carson, Jesus’ Confrontation with the World, 178.

[15] Ross, 80.

[16] Chamblin, 510.

[17] Carson, Jesus’ Confrontation with the World, 177.

[18] Platt, 112.

[19] Chamblin, 512.

[20] Carson, 181.

[21] MacArthur, 27.

[22] Doriani, 343.