Focused Followers

Focused On What’s Most Important

9.11.22 [Luke 9:51-62] River of Life (14th Sunday after Pentecost)

Through the first 9 chapters of Luke’s Gospel, it was clear that Jesus was a man who was going places. Synagogues of people were (Lk. 4:32) amazed at his teaching because his words had authority. Demons cowered in fear. His power to heal and to cure was unheard of—and all anyone could talk about. People brought anyone who had any kind of sickness or disease to Jesus and (Lk. 6:19) he healed every single one of them, every single time. (Lk. 4:14) News about Jesus spread throughout the whole countryside of Galilee. (Lk. 4:15) Everyone was praising him. Everywhere Jesus went, the people were looking for him, eager to listen to him, excited to see him, and unwilling to let him go to the next town.

Yes, there were some who had questions about Jesus and his ways. The Pharisees & the teachers of the law didn’t like Jesus, but it seemed everyone else did. Jesus had the respect of the Roman centurion, the endorsement of John the Baptist, and the support of the people.

Then Jesus raised a young man from the dead in Nain. The people (Lk. 7:16) were filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help his people."

Jesus wasn’t just a hero in Galilee. (Lk. 7:17) News about Jesus was spreading throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Jesus had become so popular that when his (Lk. 8:19) mother and brothers came to see him, they were not able to get near him because of the crowds. (Lk. 8:40) When he returned to Galilee, crowds of people were waiting for him at the shoreline, excited to welcome him. (Lk. 9:9) Even Herod the tetrarch was impressed by Jesus.

When you are that powerful in word and deed, when you are that popular with all kinds of people, it’s no surprise that you are going to get some people glomming on to you. With a bandwagon this big, you’re going to get some hop-ons.

The crowds remained confused about who Jesus was. (Lk. 9:19) Some said John the Baptist come back from the dead. Or Elijah back from his chariot ride. But they knew he was a big deal. They were eager to listen to him teach, to witness his miracles, & to do things in his name.

Until today’s text. Many who have studied Luke’s Gospel, remark that our opening verse is when thing changed. (Lk. 9:51) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Jesus was a man who was going places, and he knew that not everyone would like where he was going. In these verses we see five different groups or people who have issues with Jesus’ itinerary, problems with the path that leads to Calvary’s cross.

The first one is this Samaritan village. Jesus is going from Galilee to Jerusalem. The fastest way from point A to point B was through Samaria. Most Jews went around Samaria on their way to Jerusalem because of the mutual hostility. But not Jesus. He sent messengers ahead of him to get this village ready. But when they found out he was headed to Jerusalem, they refused to welcome him. They rejected him because their Messiah couldn’t be also loyal to Jerusalem.

This made James and John irate. These two brothers asked Jesus if he wanted to recreate (2 Kg. 1) the judgment that God sent down upon the Samaritan king Ahaziah’s two captains and his 100 men and (Lk. 9:54) call fire down from heaven and destroy them for consulting an idol instead of the Lord’s prophet. (Lk. 9:54) But Jesus turned & rebuked his own disciples. Then he kept moving toward Jerusalem.

On the way, three more men had an opportunity to join Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. One commits. Another is commanded. A third volunteers. But it’s not clear if any of them actually do follow Jesus. It seems like they don’t, but we aren’t told definitively.

What Jesus does say is that there are real, personal, & immediate sacrifices for anyone following him. Following Jesus means rejection and roughing it. Following Jesus means missing out on significant moments and leaving behind special relationships.

Does that feel needless to you? Isn’t there a part of us that wants to tell Jesus that he’d catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar? Why can’t that man bury his father? Why can’t the other say goodbye to his family? Do Jesus’ demands frustrate and disappoint you?

What Jesus calls for here is what grabs our attention. But what flies under our radar is how the second two men respond. Lord, first…

Lord, first…let me do what I think I need to be doing, then I'll get around to doing what you think I need to do. There’s a reason that these words fly under our radar. We don’t find these words frustrating or disappointing, because we live like this far too often. We say the same things to our Savior in how we schedule our lives and make our priorities. We may call him Lord, but we act like we are his co-pilots.

Lord first, let me get through school. Lord first, let me get my career on the right track. Lord first, let me see the world. Lord first, let me get my house in order. Lord first, let me get my kids straightened out. Lord first, let me give my grandkids all the things I didn’t have growing up. Lord first, let me get better. Lord first, let me sort out my relationships. Lord first, let me get settled into retirement. Lord first, let me get a few things scratched off the bucket list. Lord first, let me make some memories. Lord first, let me get what I want and then I’ll get to doing what you want.

One of the most sinister ways that Satan tries to hamstring the church of God is through pious-sounding procrastination and passing the buck to someone else. Young people tell themselves they’re too busy to get involved, too financially strapped to be generous. But as they grow older, they don’t suddenly find an extra day. Instead, now they discover that they don’t have nearly as much energy as they once had and instead of expending what they do have in serving Jesus and his people they complain about all the young people who aren’t involved. The truth is, there will always be things that come up. There will always be matters that clamor for our attention and energy. There will always be reasons to delay just a little longer. There will always be excuses.

Jesus’ rebuke hits us right between the eyes. Lk. 9:62 No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. No one who isn’t "all in" is worthy of the kingdom of God. This sounds demanding and draining. But remember the stakes. Eternal life!

You hate it when the person driving you, or even around you, is texting while they are driving, right? Why? Because they should be focused on what’s most important. There are lives at stake! Are the stakes any lower when it comes to following Jesus? Is eternal life less important?

Of course not. That’s why Christ came. Because he recognized that we are far too prone to procrastinate and also pass the buck on the most important spiritual tasks. We are not self-disciplined or committed enough to even be in the kingdom of God. So Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem to earn our justification. Jesus was going places. He did not come merely to win the affection of the crowds. He came to make atonement for their sins. He put his hand to the plow of redeeming us and put all his energy and attention into seeing that it was done right.

The path that Jesus walked to reconcile us to our Holy God was one that included all the things people were trying to side step and negotiate their way out of. Jesus was rejected by more than just a village of Samaritans. (Lk. 4:28-29) He was rejected by his hometown. He was the stone the builders—the spiritual leaders of Israel—rejected. (Is. 53:3) He was despised and (Lk. 17:25) rejected by his whole generation.

He left the comfort of heaven and even though he created everything in this world, (Lk. 9:58) the Son of Man didn’t have a place to lay his head.

Jesus left his family behind in Nazareth. When they heard about what he was doing, they thought he was (Mk. 3:21) out of his mind. More than that, Jesus experienced the full righteous wrath of his Heavenly Father. His Father loved him and he loved his Father, but in order to save us from our sins, he had to become sin for us. He had to be punished and cursed by God, so that we could be blessed.

Jesus did not let pain or discomfort dissuade him from doing what was necessary to redeem us. The Son of Man was set on going places—to Golgotha to take our place. Jesus did more than just put his hand to the plow. He stretched them out on the cross. They were pierced for our sins.

We have been saved only because (Lk. 9:51) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He refused temptations and distractions. He remained focused on accomplishing everything necessary for our salvation. And even now he is focused on our eternal needs. The Son of Man who was lifted up on a cross has a higher & better perspective on things. So let us listen well.

Let us set aside all of our Lord firsts. Let us remember and rejoice that he put us first. He loved us first. He died for us first. He rose for us first. He knows what is best for us, first and foremost. Let us stop passing the buck, stop procrastinating, and get to the work he has called us to. Let us follow him fervently. Let us serve as he has served us. With focus, intensity, & joy.

Every step will not be easy. Some will be painful. Some days we will feel the sting of rejection more than others. Some moments we will wonder why we are making the sacrifices we are making. Some times, we will long to see loved ones for a little while longer. But we know whom we are following. We know where his steps lead. To heaven. There our Christ has ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father. There he rules all things for our eternal good. There he will remove pain forever. There he will wipe away our tears once and for all. There, there is no more death, only life with Jesus for eternity. There he is gathering together our spiritual brothers and sisters.

Could there be anything more important, more valuable, more pressing than journeying there? Of course not! And God will strengthen you, God will empower you, God will guide you, God will surround you with other Christians to support you. God has promised you won’t be missing out on any of that stuff in the long run. Jesus promises: (Lk. 18:29-30) No one who has left kith and kin for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come. Amen.