On the Road to Jerusalem

Scripture Introduction:

So about a year ago I had to make a trip to the human society to get rid of our dog. She was a really good and nice dog but she was much bigger than anticipated and honestly she just wasn’t good around kids…or really society. She was nice…but just really hyper. Anyways I’m taking the dog to the humane society and she’s enjoying the ride, she’s living it up, thinking that we’re going for a nice trip somewhere. But the whole time I knew that this wasn’t going to be pleasurable. This wasn’t a happy occasion. (I hope she found a great home…perhaps one with padded walls). But I was really sad the whole trip…and she was…well the same oblivious and happy and less than intelligent dog that she had always been.

Same destination. Two totally different expectations about what is going to happen when you get there. In Luke 9 we’re seeing a contrast here between what the disciples are thinking is going to happen in Jerusalem and what Jesus believes is going to happen. You’ll notice in just a moment the language here about Jesus setting his face to Jerusalem…he knows that he is going there to die—but also this will be the place of His great accomplishment, His resurrection, His ascension. But for the disciples…this is the place where he is crowned the king, where their following of him is going to come to fruition—they’ll be shown to be the wise ones, sitting at the cool kids table, being closest to Jesus, etc.

And we are also going to be introduced to three would-be followers in our text. And that’s important because this isn’t just about the disciples, this is for us as well. It’s a question that the Spirit of God, through Luke, is asking us even today. What does discipleship mean for you? What does it mean to follow Jesus? What do you have in your mind when you think about that? What does it mean for you to be a Jesus-follower?

As one commentator had said this passage really serves as a bit of a fork in the road.

“Regularly God tests the earnestness of our hearts by bringing them to a fork in the road.  When it becomes necessary to choose between two ways, which way do we follow - comfort, custom, convention, or Christ?  The test from the very outset of discipleship has been” – and then he quotes Jesus’ words in the very passage we’re going to read this morning – “The test from the very outset has been, ‘Follow Me.’”

Listen in, to what following Jesus means here in Luke 9.

Luke 9:51–62 ESV

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. 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.”

Sermon Introduction:

Now it might seem like these would make a couple of different sermons. But I really think that Luke wants us to tie this passage together. I think there is a connection between Jesus’ setting his face to Jerusalem, the disciples response, and the response of the three would-be disciples. I think there is a connection here....and I think it’s calling upon us to ask that question about discipleship. What does it mean for us to follow Jesus. I think we have here is a corrective about what it really means to follow Jesus. And there is definitely good news here as well.

There is a switch that takes place here in Luke. Up until this point it has been Jesus going about all the surrounding villages…but something happens here. He is now resolved to go to Jerusalem. The text says he set his face…it’s a Hebrew idiom. It means resolved, face like flint, he’s not turning for nothing, he’s not moving, he’s not going to be deterred, this is what he is called to do and he is going to do it.

As the story unfolds Luke keeps reminding us of Jesus going to Jerusalem.

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. (13:22)

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. (17:11)

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (18:31–33)

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. (19:28)

As D.A. Carson has rightly said, “everything that takes place in Luke’s Gospel from 9:51 on takes place under the looming shadow of the impending cross.” As this is marking a shift in the narrative it’s also a bit connected with what we’ve been seeing throughout Luke 9—the disciples humanity. We’re going to see one more story of James and John really not understanding what Jesus is calling of them. They are at a fork in the road…and on this occasion they are a picture of misunderstanding the mission of Jesus.

I. Following Jesus isn’t about being an avenger.

I’m not very good at geography or directions. Sometimes people will tell me “It’s west of the ol’ gas station and then you go north.” And I’m just usually incredibly confused and I just need to know if I’m supposed to go left or right. If you’re like me it’s going to be helpful to say that Jesus is in the north…that means “up here” on a map…and he is going south to Jersualem. The best way to get there…or most direct way…is through Samaria. But most Jews…b/c of not liking the Samaritans…would turn a bit and travel down the east bank....kind of a go around. But Jesus goes straight to Samaria…and the disciples are going ahead and they aren’t about to let these Jews pass, “because they are going to Jerusalem.” Could be looking back at what Jesus is meant to do…certainly that’s part of it…but could also mean that it’s b/c they are Jews and Samaritans didn’t really want anyone to go to Jerusalem.

These two countries had been feuding for a long time. In fact just a few years prior the Jews had invaded Samaritan territory and destroyed their temple. So they aren’t going to be helping the disciples.

In 2 Kings Elijah called down fire from heaven and destroyed those worshipping a false god. Aren’t the Samaritans doing the same thing? Isn’t there one greater than Elijah here? And they aren’t allowing him passage? Is it not fitting then that we set ablaze those who don’t follow you…those who aren’t faithful to you…those who abandon the living god and worship idols. Should we not avenge those who slight our Lord?

Okay…let’s let that play out for a moment. What is going to happen when the disciples themselves get to Jerusalem? They too will abandon Jesus and flee. Some for the purpose of safety and security, others for reputation…but they will all scatter. They will distance themselves from Jesus…and Peter himself will curse Jesus. Should they too be consumed by fire?

I’m indebted to D.A. Carson for this point. Carson, I think, asks a great question:

Of course, when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to die, instead of the Samaritans, instead of the disciples, everything will be turned on its head. When he gets to Jerusalem, crowds will cry: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Should he call down fire on them too? It was my sin that held him there on the cross. Should he call down fire on me? And the answer to all those questions is—yes. On one level, he should. To reject the incarnate God-man, who is heading to Jerusalem to give his life—what terrible blasphemy is that?

But Jesus does not let it happen; he does not call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans. He does not call down fire from heaven on his disciples. Why not? Because he is resolved to go to Jerusalem, where he will die on the cross for sinners.

Are the disciples willing to be misunderstood even to the point of death? Are they willing to suffer and never have their day of justice this side of eternity? Are they willing to be mistreated? Are they willing to lose rights? Are they willing to be falsely accused and maligned? Are they willing to follow the way of the cross?

What do you think it means to follow Jesus? Do you think it means to eventually be proven right? Do you think it means to call down fire on your enemies? I think Piper is correct when he asks this question:

Here is a question put to every believer by this text: does discipleship mean deploying God's missiles against the enemy in righteous indignation? Or does discipleship mean following him on the Calvary road which leads to suffering and death?

How might we be guilty of this in our day? I hear so frequently about how the church needs to stand up…be counted…let our voice be heard. And I sometimes think that our calls for revival are no more than a desire to rain fire down from heaven. What if revival meant self-death and not enemy-death? What if it meant calling down fire from heaven to consume all of our rubbish…all of our false ideas of who God is and what God requires. What if we said, “burn us up” instead of “burn them up”.

Probably my favorite worship band…apart from the one here at Calvary..is Shane & Shane. They have a song on the story of Daniel’s three friends being thrown in the fire of Nebby. But they do something so cool with it…the song starts with their response to Nebby...

The king enraged at what they said Sent the three away to find their death The palace stopped in unbelief When the guilty raised their hands to sing

And they looked to him and said "Burn us up, burn us up, burn us up Oh king, won't you burn us In the furnace of your desire?"

Oh, we give up, we give up, we give up Oh king, oh won't you burn us In the furnace of your desire? Won't you save us from the fire?

But then their prayer shifts a bit…they start talking and singing to the real king. They say

You are able to deliver from the fire of affliction It's the declaration of my Lord You're not an image of gold, you're the God of old You have made us, come and save us, we are yours

But even if you don't Even if you don't If you don't, if you don't We will burn, we will burn

Burn us up, burn us up, burn us up Oh king, oh won't you burn us In the furnace of your desire?

Oh, we give up, we give up, we give up Oh king, oh won't you burn us In the furnace of your desire? Won't you throw us in the fire?

You see the way of the kingdom isn’t about burning up our enemies. Yes, eventually Jesus is going to make all things right…part of this will be not allowing sin into his kingdom, rooting out all sin and unbelief, there will be judgment there will be a setting things right. But it’s not yet. His going to Jersualem isn’t for that…it’s for something else.

So are you going to follow him to die? When you get there and you realize this isn’t a glory mission or a death mission do you turn around? The disciples did. They abandoned him....yes…he called them back…yes they repented…but they too would not understand, they’d reject him, abandon him, etc. Eventually they’d get it…but not yet.

After this rebuke we read in verse 56 “they went to another village”…which is really what Jesus had instructed them to do in the first part of the chapter. Not torch a place if they reject you…but voice your complaint “shake the dust of your feet” (that’s a way of reserving judgment to the Lord) and they went on to another village and preached the gospel there. That’s what you do. You run into a closed door you don’t give up…you don’t grab an ax or a flamethrower…you move on to another village.

As they are “going along the road”…again we have Jerusalem before us…they are met by three would-be disciples. And they too will teach us a lesson about what is and is not discipleship.

Following Jesus at the expense of our own comfort

The first would-be disciple makes quite the boast. “I will follow you wherever you go.” I’ll go with you to Jerusalem. Matthew tells us that this is a “teacher of the law”. Luke doesn’t mention that. But does this teacher of the law know what he is saying? What does he expect with following Jesus wherever he goes.

What do you expect if you say that? You’re going to follow Jesus wherever he says to go. Do you expect a life of ease and comfort? Do you expect it to mean luxury? Do you expect it to mean material blessing after material blessing?

Do you know what you’re saying, is what Jesus is asking. Count the cost. I don’t have a place to live. I’m homeless. I’m dependent upon the hospitality of others. I don’t even have the luxury of a fox or a bird. That’s what he is saying.

Following me isn’t going to entail comfort, ease, or wealth.

I’ll tell you how this verse really encouraged me a few months ago. I feel so politically and often theologically homeless these days. I don’t feel as if I have a home anywhere. I could go into details on that but I don’t know if it’d be beneficial. About 8-10 years ago I think I would have said that I had a theological tribe, I had a political tribe as well…but I don’t feel all that “at home” with anyone anymore. And that’s a pretty stinky place to be when we’re so polarized…because on any given day I’ll be accused of being a woke-liberal or a right-wing bigot.

But you know how this verse really helped me. It helped me realize that I was trying to find my home here. I was trying to find my home in a particular tribe, a particular party, a particular people. But why should I expect that luxury? Why would I not expect to be “homeless” and “tribeless” when the One who I am hoping to follow daily didn’t even have a place to lay his head. My goal isn’t to fit into a tribe or a party. My goal is to follow Jesus. And following Jesus isn’t going to fit our man-made boundaries.

So what would it mean for you to follow a homeless Jesus? What does that mean for you and I today? Are we really willing to follow him wherever he would go?

The second one Jesus initiates....

2. To follow Jesus at the expense of our earthly commitments.

The Lord might be saying something similar to you today. Follow me. I don’t know specifically what that means…but you do. You know what Jesus is calling you to do. “Follow me...” says Jesus.

Now listen to the response of this man. First let me bury my father. Now when we hear this we’re thinking that it’s the day that his dad died and he’d like to attend the funeral. I need to go bury my dad…then I’ll follow.

But we need to understand a little something about that culture. Burial was a lengthy process. So it’s possible that this guy saying “let me bury my father” is saying I need to wait for my dad to die, need to take care of that, then I’m free as a bird and I’ll follow you wherever. We know that he didn’t just recently die because of the way this took place…the son wouldn’t even be “on the road” for Jesus to talk to if his dad had just died. You stayed with the body for 24 hours.

What’s likely happening is explained well by Ligon Duncan:

What happened was first, after a person died and after the funeral celebrations had taken place and the body had been prepared and placed in an open tomb, the body would be allowed to decompose over about a year and then the eldest son had the responsibility of going and taking what was left of that decomposed body – by that time just the bones – and placing the bones of his father or mother, his parents, into an ossuary, a box in which the bones of the person would be more permanently laid in a tomb.  And this was considered to be part of honoring your father and your mother.  This was part of fulfilling the command that you were going to care for your parents all the way up to and even after death.  And this disciple says to Jesus, “I’m going to follow You, Jesus, but first let me bury my father.”  Now that could have been a process that led all the way up to a year’s delay in this disciple’s following of Jesus.  

But this was basic duty. So what Jesus said to him would have been shocking. Jesus is putting himself above one of the most basic duties of a son for his father.

And we want to be careful here. Because Jesus condemned the Pharisees for doing something quite similar to what one COULD do here. The Pharisees were neglecting their parents—neglecting basic duty—and saying, “we are following God. We are giving to God so we aren’t called to do this thing.” So is Jesus asking this guy to do something similar?

No. Just as with the Pharisees he is seeing through the heart. Jesus is incredibly kind and compassionate. He’s not cold and calloused. This isn’t some distant king barking some command that is impossible and horrible to follow. He isn’t barking allegiance here. He is inviting into relationship. He’s speaking to this guys heart and cutting through his lame excuse that sounds like a really good one.

Friends, we’ve gotten really refined in the fig-leaves that we can hide behind. We know in our culture there are some things that are sacred and that you can use as an excuse and nobody asks questions. And many times they aren’t excuses…they aren’t a cover. You really DO have to work but you’d love to be there. But sometimes you COULD get around that work but you’re just using it as an excuse that nobody is going to question.

So how do we apply this one? We ask our hearts that question. What front am I putting up? What am I using as an excuse to delay in following Jesus? He sees through the excuse. Do we? Do I know that I’m full of bologna? Or have my excuses deceived even my own eyes? May God give us grace to be people of integrity.

The third one says, something similar. Let me say farewell to those in my home.

3. To follow Jesus at the expense of everything else in life.

Again we have a connection here to 1 Kings. I think there is a connection with Elijah and Elisha all through this passage. I can’t figure out why. I had a theory that it might have a connection to the Transfiguration and Luke is showing us how Christ is better than both Moses and Elijah…but I can’t really find the Moses material here yet. So I don’t know that this is a good theory. But Luke is doing something here with Elijah…I just can’t quite figure out why just yet.

But in 1 Kings 19. Elisha was going to take over Elijah’s job and he’s actually at his plow. And Elijah invites him to leave his plow and follow him....to take up his mantel. But Elijah says, “I’ll follow you but I need to go say bye first.” And what does Elijah do? He says, “okay, sounds good.”

And actually Elisha we see his commitment b/c he slaughters his oxen and boils them…and burns up the plow. He’s making a clean break with his past and doing something new. He’s all in.

This guy does something similar…notice though too that here this guy is initiating the conversation. But Jesus tells him. “Nah, you put your hand to the plow and look back and you aren’t fit for the kingdom”. What in the world is going on here? Why can’t this guy say bye to his family?

Well it’s likely similar to what we just saw. Jesus is seeing through this guys heart. He isn’t wanting to butcher his oxen. Is he really dedicated. That is what Jesus is asking of him. Is he realizing that one greater than Elijah is here?

What’s really going on here is a treasure test. That’s what is here in all of these things. Is Jesus enough? Is he really what you are treasuring? Is he your joy, your security, hope, identity, home, family, etc.

But why does he say this? Because he is very good? Because he is selfish? Because he wants to rob us of joy? Because he is like tinkerbell and can’t fly if people don’t believe in him or treasure him? No. He’s doing this because he actually IS the greatest treasure. And if he loves us what is he going to do? He’s not going to allow us to settle for lesser treasures.

The point I make at funerals…If this pain that you feel is a “light and momentary affliction...” then how sweet must Jesus be.

A point I’d make today…How sweet must Jesus be, if it’s not a rip off. It’s not a trade. There are so many great and wonderful gifts that God gives to us.

Listen to this great and precious promise in Luke 18. Luke 18:29

Luke 18:29 ESV

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

It’s not forsaking in the wrong type of way…it’s a matter of priorities....It’s putting things in the right order and treasuring as we ought.

But I also think we are called to read this in light of the march to Jerusalem. This isn’t just some abstract call to discipleship. It’s about following the guy who is getting ready to suffering in Jersualem. He’s going to suffer on our behalf.

D.A. Carson

The only adequate response to such self-sacrifice is unqualified devotion: we must follow him with our own self-death; we must take up our crosses and follow him.