Making Excuses Instead of Following Jesus

Have you considered the cost of following Jesus? While I’m sure most of us have, that doesn’t mean we don’t struggle at times with the total dedication discipleship of Jesus requires. Luke tells us that Jesus encountered half-hearted disciples during his own ministry. Jesus encountered these would-be disciples while on his way to Jerusalem. As the fate that awaits him in Jerusalem casts a shadow over these encounters, let’s learn what we can about following Jesus. We adapted these notes from the Life Application Bible Commentary.

Following Jesus Means Putting Aside Worldly Security

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.”

Luke 9:57–58

They had hoped for lodging, but instead had to continue on their journey. Then someone approached and wanted to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote that this man was a scribe (teacher of the law, Matthew 8:19). Most of the scribes became Jesus’ enemies, but at least one apparently recognized Jesus’ authority and wanted to be his disciple. Jesus’ reply, however, pointed out to the man the cost of becoming a disciple. Jesus did not grab on to disciples, eagerly taking anyone who wanted to follow. Those who truly wanted to be his disciples needed to understand that it would cost them something—they could not expect luxury or even a warm welcome (as illustrated in the incident in 9:52–53). While most of God’s creatures have warm places in which to live and to sleep, the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

To be Jesus’ disciple, a person must willingly put aside worldly security. To follow Jesus wherever he would go (as this scribe said) would mean a willingness to give up home and security. In the context of Jesus’ present ministry, to follow him meant to be constantly on the move, bringing his message to people in many places. It is not known whether this scribe actually chose to follow, but the words are recorded for believers’ benefit. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus? Do you understand that following Jesus is far more valuable than anything this world offers?

Following Jesus Means Putting Him First

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:59–60

The previous man came on his own to Jesus (9:57–58); this time, however, Jesus asked another man to follow him. But this man explained that he first needed to go and bury his father. In ancient times, doing a proper burial of a dead person was a sacred duty. The text does not report whether the father was already dead or whether he was elderly or sick and going to die soon. It is unlikely that the father was already dead and the son was merely asking permission to finish the funeral because, if that were the case, the son would have been nowhere near Jesus—hardly on the road where Jesus was walking—because he would have been at home with the mourners. More likely, the man was asking for permission to wait until his father died—an indefinite delay.

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PAYING THE PRICE

No great success comes without sacrifice. Ask champion athletes or concert musicians what they had to give up to attain their level of expertise. Ask a mother if she has had to forgo some of her own plans and desires in order to do what is best for her child, and she will tell you that she has. Nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice, and that applies to Christian discipleship as well. Of course, there are incomparable benefits to having a living relationship with God, but they do not come without a price. Jesus said that he, the Son of Man, didn’t even have a home, a place to call his own. What sacrifices has God asked you to make in view of the much greater privilege of following Jesus? Earthly success, possessions, and recognition must not deter us from serving others.

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The reason is not given, but whatever it was, the man wanted to do it “first.” Perhaps he was the firstborn son and wanted to be sure to claim his inheritance. Perhaps he did not want to face his father’s wrath if he were to leave the family business. Whether his concern was fulfilling a duty, having financial security, keeping family approval, or something else, he did not want to commit himself to Jesus just yet. Jesus sensed this reluctance and challenged the man to consider that his commitment had to be complete, without reservation. If this man truly desired to follow Jesus, he would not wait until he had fulfilled all his traditional responsibilities. Jesus was responding to this disciple’s qualifying use of “first.” Jesus must always come “first,” above all human loyalties. Jesus’ directive was not heartless; it called the man to examine his primary loyalty.

Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead

Jesus’ response (“Let the dead bury their own dead’’) points out that those who want to follow him should count the cost and set aside any conditions they might have. “The dead” in Aramaic can also mean “the dying.” So Jesus may have been saying, “Let the dying bury the dead.” In other words, let those who are spiritually dying (those who have not responded to the call to commitment) stay home and handle responsibilities such as burying the dead. This may sound insensitive, but it had precedents. A high priest and those who had taken the Nazirite vow were required by the law to avoid the corpse of even a parent (Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6–8). A later Jewish precedent says that if there were enough people in attendance, a student of the Torah should not stop his studying to bury the dead.

Jesus placed commitment to God even above these precedents. As God’s Son, Jesus did not hesitate to demand complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the demands of obedience to the command to go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Jesus’ direct challenge forces believers to evaluate their priorities. They must not put off the decision to follow Jesus, even though other loyalties compete for attention. Like the first man, it is not known whether this man chose to follow Jesus or turned away.

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A BETTER TIME?

Luke did not give the reason why this man said no to Jesus. But Jesus used the response to teach an important lesson. True discipleship requires instant action; the responsibilities of the kingdom cannot be put off until a “better time.” Jesus did not teach people to forsake responsibilities to family, but he often gave commands to people in light of their real motives. Perhaps this man wanted to delay following Christ and used his father as an excuse. There is a cost to following Jesus, and each follower must be ready to serve, even when it requires sacrifice. Don’t wait for a better time to follow and serve Jesus—he is calling you now.

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Following Jesus Means Finishing the Work You Started

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:61–62

A third person approached, and this one, like the first, expressed his desire to follow Jesus. However, this man too had something he wanted to do first. Jesus ascertained in this potential follower a sense of reluctance and an unfortunate willingness to put something else ahead of following Jesus. Who knows what might occur on his trek back to his family that would deter him from the task at hand. Who knows what this attitude might mean in the years to come if a precedent were set that service for the kingdom can be put off in pursuit of other matters. “No,” Jesus answered, for this was not the type of follower he needed.

The picture of a person putting a hand to the plow and looking back can be compared with Elijah’s call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19–21. Elisha was called to be a prophet right in the middle of plowing a field—and he never looked back. In fact, he slaughtered the oxen so that they would not even be a temptation to return. Elisha then moved wholeheartedly into the ministry to which he had been called. Jesus explained that service in the kingdom of God was of such vital importance that his followers must make it their top priority. It had an even greater urgency than the Old Testament discipleship arrangement. They must step out in faith to serve him, without looking back.

Conclusion

What does Jesus want from his followers? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. His followers must accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. They must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security. Nothing should distract them from service for the kingdom.”

Dedicated Discipleship with the Life Application Bible Commentary

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