Exploring the holy texts

Luke 13:25-35

Jesus, all for Jesus

Recently, my husband and I went to see the film “North by Northwest”. When you hear the rest of this sermon, you might think that my time would have been better spent writing my sermon, but nevertheless, that's what we did.

Many of you may know the story, but if you haven't seen the film – and I urge you to see it – I won't give the plot away. But I will say this: at a certain point in the film, the hero risks his life by going to a place where he knows his life will be in danger. Regardless of whether you have seen the film of not, take a guess at why he risks his life.

Answer: he risks his life for someone he loves.

Now, that thought – when applied to my Christian life – can keep me up at night. 

Why? Because I am a professing Christian. I have declared that Jesus is my Saviour, my Lord and master. Because I tell Jesus most days that I love him. And yet, sometimes, when he asks me to do things far easier than risking my life, I don't do them. So, who do I really love? Who do you really love?

That question is really central to the two passages that were read to us this morning. Who do you really love? Who do you love most? Who do you love so much that you would be willing to risk, or even lose, your life for them?

Let’s look at the passage from Luke. Firstly, what is the cost of discipleship and why should we count it?

Let’s start by looking at Jesus's words about discipleship. And this is very hard teaching......quote verses 26, 27:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

and 33:

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Now why did Jesus use such strong words, because let's face it words like these were not going to help him win popularity contests? Why did he speak about hating those nearest and dearest to us – even hating ourselves, and giving up all our possessions? Why did he speak in such absolute terms?

He even goes so far as to say unless we do these things we “cannot” be his disciples. He rules out lukewarm discipleship. It's all or nothing.

Yesterday, I heard a pastor named Ken Burge say, “The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground.”

And Jesus of course knew that, far better than any of us, which is probably why one of his examples is about a king contemplating a battle. When we become Christians, we are entering a battleground and we better be prepared for it.

And our enemy – our true enemy – is not other human beings but as At Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 our struggle is against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It was act of love for Jesus to warn us that there is a cost to being one of his disciples as and we must count that cost before becoming one of his followers and every day that we are a follower.

Of so there are risks, but why does Jesus use these words about hating our mother and father (quote)?

Well, firstly, let’s clear up the point that Jesus is no contradicting other parts of scripture by advocating hating our parents, siblings, children, etc. What he is saying s that our love for him must far exceed our love for their humans.

And he is not saying immediately give up all your possessions, but rather, regard your possessions as no longer your own. Sometimes we are called to give up all our possessions, as St Francis did. Always, we are called to be prepared to give up our possessions.

So, what is Jesus saying? We must love him above all others. Because if we do not, there is no way we will be prepared to accept the cost of discipleship when it comes to making the decision to follow Jesus but for the whole of our Christian life.

(Quote)

What kind of costs am I talking about?

there are the costs involved in spiritual growth (explain); and

there are the costs involved in being a Christian – costs that Jesus warned about (give examples).

Thirdly, the Christian life is gain – even in the darkest moments.

Conclusion

When you became a Christian, did you count the cross? Are you counting the cost now? Because Jesus wants you – he warns you - to be aware of the cost of discipleship.

More than that, he asks you to accept the cost of discipleship. There is no point in counting the cost of discipleship if we are not prepared to accept that cost. If we don't accept it then we are like salt that has lost its saltiness – only good for the fire. And if that is so then nothing is going to change in our lives, and we are not going to be used to change Brentford, London, the UK, the world.

If you are baulking at the çost of discipleship either for the first time or the thousandth time, do what Jesus did – for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross. Preach to yourself all the promises of God, remember that the Christian life is gain – and only a fool trades worldly pleasure – or worldly safety, or an easy life - for eternal joy. Reject the snares of the devil, bend down and pick up your cross.

And remember that Jesus has promised to be with us every millisecond of every day. The cost of discipleship you are bearing now – the trials you are facing - you don’t bear or face alone.

Jesus gave everything for us. Will we give everything for him?

#Bible #exploration