He who would follow Jesus; 欲跟隨耶穌的人

Rev. Rong-Hu Lu; translator: Mu-En Yang

路加福音（Luke）9:51-62

Greetings Brothers and Sisters:

In today’s scripture, we see four kinds of people. The first kind had already followed Jesus and the three others were considering whether or not to do so. Let’s talk about those who have already followed Jesus later and the rest three first.

In verse 57 the scripture says: “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’” We have no idea how long had this man been along with Jesus and how much he observed Him. However, we are touched by his determination and what he said: “I will follow you wherever you go.” If Jesus told this man directly “I’m going to die, do you want to follow?” I guess this man would have been scared away. He said this out of his earthly courage, or he thought Jesus was going to be enthroned in Jerusalem.

Jesus gently hinted this man that he thought it wrong. As of worldly wealth and glory, Jesus had nothing, even less than foxes and birds because they still have holes and nests but He had no place to lay head. After hearing what Jesus said, the man was shocked and decided not to follow and the scripture stops here.

During the first century, Palestine was a very poor area and life there was very difficult. Jesus, who can perform miraculous signs, did not proclaim a gospel of wealth. If He did, He would have gathered people much more easily. He, on the other hand, asked those who want to follow Him to fist consider and calculate the cost of following him which is the guarantee of wealth.

To follow Jesus, we must realize that He is God is love; he worth our worship and to be followed. One should think of this before declare following Jesus.

The second kind of people heard a clear call from Jesus. He said: “Come follow me.” But they thought their parents might disagree, so they asked Jesus to give them a few years, when their parents die, they would believe and follow Him.

To these people, Jesus answered: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Do not think that the man’s father was dead; neither do not think that Jesus was not humane. Good Jews bury their dead the same day of death. If the man’s father did die, he would have not been there listening to Jesus’ preaching. What he really wanted to say was “wait until my father passes away.” Why wait until his father dies? It could be some reason that his father did not believe and he wouldn’t want to make his father upset. Isn’t this situation still very common these days? How many people decide not to be baptized because their parents don’t want them to? They do want to follow Jesus and that’s why Jesus called them. Jesus did not blame on their asking for a wait, but taught them how to do. He said:”Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” What Jesus meant was “Let those who are dead spiritually live their own life, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” To whom should they proclaim the kingdom of God? Aren’t their parents included? Of course yes! I believe this was what Jesus wanted.

When I first went to New Jersey FL Church, there were many first generation Christians. They often got nervous if they needed to go back to Taiwan to bury their parent or family members. During the ceremony, should they offer fume to and kneel down by the dead? I often encouraged them with Jesus’ encouragement, which is to proclaim Jesus’ gospel and be the witness as a Christian; tell their family that they respect and love the one who passed away; offer the way they express respect and humble ask for understanding.

The third group is like whom we see in verse 61, ask for going back and say good-bye to their family. When this kind of person go say good-bye to their family and are found to be following Jesus, what would their family and friend say? I believe there must be people holding positive attitude, after all, Jesus was famous; on the other hand, there must be also a strong opposition. Some people might ask:” How about your wife, children and parents? Who will take care of them?” Some might blame:” Do you want to die? None of the revolution lead by prophets from Galilee succeeded.” (Historians tell us that from the first century, numerous movements against were started at Galilee.) So, to go back and to say good-bye to their families meant to discuss with their families.

Belief, especially the one in Jesus Christ, is a total commitment. To offer you as a whole and follow Jesus is not the action to please others and is not a decision to be made by others. No wonder Jesus said:” No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

I guess no one in this room except me had the experience to plow on the farm. Plows are sharp metal made of tin and iron, and are fixed onto triangular stools. Plows in Taiwan are curved and are able to push the soil to the right, and are able to reach deeper. Plows in Palestine reach mush shallower and squeeze sand and pebbles to both sides. No matter what kind of plows, the furrow plowed out is in a narrow triangular shape. It is easy for a man to fall walking bare foot on the furrow if his hands are not put to the plow. Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back not only falls a lot, but is not able to plow a straight and deep furrow. This kind of mans does nothing but wrong. So our Lord said this kind of person is not fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The last group of people is those who had followed Jesus for a while, like James and John. They feel themselves as “experienced disciples” and can speak for their masters. The scripture tells us that Jesus and His disciples went from Galilee to Jerusalem. They must pass through Samaria and wanted to stay overnight in Samaria. So Jesus sent someone in advance to get things ready for Him. However people in Samaria did not welcome Him.

John 4: 9 tells us that Samaritans and Jews did not associate each other. Jews looked down to Samaritans and Samaritans were hostile to Jews. Travel from Galilee to Jerusalem was never through Samaria.

So we can say that Jesus passed through Samaria in a friendly purpose. However people in Samaria did not buy it. No wonder James and John were so angry. They felt humiliated (as their smiling faces were put against the Samaritan’s cold ass.) So they suggest Jesus to call fire down from heaven to destroy the ungrateful ones. But they were rebuked by Jesus:” you do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

Here, Jesus tells anyone who follows Him that His spirit and His mind is never to destroy men’s live but to save them. Any spirit, motivation and deed to kill are evil. Any Christian, the one who follows Jesus, should bare this in mind.

No matter in NJ, NY or in Boston, I always hear some elders and preachers to defame a church and ask people not to attend that church etc. They try hard to “speak for” Jesus Christ, intended to destroy a church. The Lord says that they don’t know what kind of spirit they are, but definitely not His.

Christians need to be tolerant. If your good will is rejected, it’s no humiliation and they don’t need to feel shame. It is the ones who reject should feel shame. The worst mistake and sin of Christians are to take themselves as Christ. “Whoever against me is against Christ.” May we all be cautious. Didn’t our Lord say:”Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”?

When Abraham Lincoln was criticized to be too gentle to his enemies in politics and in Civil War and was reminded that to destroy enemy was his job, he answered:” Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” Sure can violence defeat ones enemies, but violence cannot extinguish them. But when enemies become friends, enemies no longer exist. Abraham Lincoln was a man truly follows Jesus. A-men.