Continuing into the travel narrative of Luke, Jesus teaches about what a disciple is at about the half way mark of the journey. In Luke 14, Jesus talks about the “cost” of being a disciple.
Jesus decides that unless someone “carry” their cross they cannot be His disciple. (Luke 14:27) This is a bit different than the phrase that He used earlier in the book, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross…” (Luke 9:23).
In my mind, taking up a cross (though Jesus said that we need to daily) represents an initial event, a firm decision to change our lifestyles to follow the way of Jesus. In my mind carrying a cross represents a person who has gone further down the path of obedience and does not struggle with the “taking up the cross” decision anymore. These disciples are sure that they want to follow Jesus and to not look back or re-change their minds. Rather, Jesus’ command to them is to continue to walk with Him now that they have realized what reality is to be a follower of Jesus.
Perhaps this is why Jesus gives a couple of parables to illustrate His point, a builder counts the cost before building and a king examines his enemy before going to war with them (Luke 14:28-33). Jesus provides us with a sober reminder of what it means to be His follower, and an encouragement to examine it all before deciding to follow Him.
As a pastor, I find that there is bewilderment in people’s hearts as they begin their Christian walk. They want to walk with Jesus, but are also frustrated with the struggle it is to move forward in their faith. The root of this can simply be that some have not seriously looked at what it means to follow Jesus. Salvation was easy, but obedience seems impossible.
Perhaps we have preached too easy of a gospel, that gets about anyone on board at salvation, only to see them give up or “fake it” along their journey towards fully-devoted discipleship. Though salvation is free from works, following God costs everything!
My encouragement would be for us all to examine the cost of following Jesus, as Jesus asked us to do. Is our pride, ambition, and quest for pleasure worth more than all He has for us?
Come, let us examine the cost together.
