Scripture: Luke 9: 57-62
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Scripture Commentary:
Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers casting a net. Jesus told them, “Follow me.” Straightaway they left their nets and followed Him.
And going from there Jesus saw James and John with their father. He told the two brothers, “Follow me.” Immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.
What does Jesus want from us?
He wants total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We cannot pick and choose from among Jesus’s ideas and follow Him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown; judgment as well as mercy.
We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. Luke does not say in chapter 9, verse 59 if James and John’s father has died or if he is dying. In verse 61, Luke does not say if the someone mentioned wanted to say goodbye to family or friends. We see in Matthew 4 that Jesus called to Simon, Andrew, James and John. And they dropped everything and followed Jesus.
Jesus is calling you. Are you going to follow Him?
Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:
Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke: