25 Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, 26 “Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. 27 Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples. 28 “If one of you is planning to build a tower, you sit down first and work out what it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. 29 If you don’t, you will not be able to finish the tower after laying the foundation; and all who see what happened will laugh at you. 30 ‘This man began to build but can’t finish the job!’ they will say. 31 “If a king goes out with 10,000 men to fight another king who comes against him with 20,000 men, he will sit down first and decide if he is strong enough to face that other king. 32 If he isn’t, he will send messengers to meet the other king, to ask for terms of peace while he is still a long way off. 33 In the same way,” concluded Jesus, “none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.”
Jesus is talking to the crowds around him about the challenges discipleship will bring. Many are following him just because he is a popular teacher. But the disciples also knew that trouble follows close behind Jesus. They were already experiencing a level of persecution from the religious authorities.
In any relationship there comes a time when you must decide whether to get serious about it or not. And that’s exactly what Jesus is talking about today. The Christian life is not for those seeking popularity or a good time with no responsibilities.
As Jesus explains the position it becomes more challenging. Things that seem good can damage our heavenly relationship. Jesus tells us to think again. Nothing must hinder our relationship with him. So Mum and Dad, husband or wife, our children and our own needs and desires must take second place to Jesus’s will. This is how Jesus’s relationship with his beloved Father worked.
Shockingly, we have to be willing to surrender our lives to the extent of being crucified in some way. This is painful stuff. Our calling is to do Jesus’s will no matter the suffering or humiliation it brings. Our selfish ways must submit to God’s will. This sort of living touches every area of life and gradually brings it into line with Jesus. And it costs us everything.
For this reason Jesus uses strong and graphic images to make us consider the cost before we start the discipleship journey.
In John 6:43-71 the crowds were horrified by some aspects of Jesus’s teaching and many left him. Jesus makes it clear that humanly speaking it is impossible to follow him. It is only possible by God’s Spirit. And in John 6:65 Jesus says: ‘‘No one can come to me unless the Father makes it possible for him to do so.’’
MEDITATIO
What impacts you most from reading these verses? Is there a specific aspect of your life that seems at odds with Jesus’s teaching?
ORATIO
Humbly spend some time with God. Ask him to help you submit everything in your life to him. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and grace to follow Jesus no matter what the consequences. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 offers us great encouragement: ‘‘May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being – spirit, soul and body – free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.’’
CONTEMPLATIO
Think about the example Jesus himself gives us of living a life completely submitted to God. He also knew his father’s total love for him. Consider the suffering Jesus endured on the Cross so that we can live a life free from sin and pleasing to God.
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