Pentecost 6

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

• is Jesus mean? well; he’s certainly not nice here
• but we know he’s compassionate
  • just a couple weeks ago we heard that Jesus felt compassion for the widow who had lost her Son

So what’s going on in this story? Where has Jesus been, and where is he going?

This is the pivotal moment. Jesus has a mission, and he knows (and we know) it ends in Jerusalem. […]

The mission, though, is a little less clear to the disciples and followers of Jesus. They know now that he has ‘turned his face’ to Jerusalem. This, by the way, is a characteristic of the old school prophets of the Old Testament. When a prophet’s face was turned against a city, it usually meant that they were about to call down fire and brimstone from the sky.

Which is probably why the disciples James and John quickly jump to fire and brimstone as the solution to some unhelpful Samaritans.

Did you catch that part of the story? […]

But Jesus rebukes them. Although it would make for a great Summer blockbuster…this is not how Jesus does things. But as we listen to how Jesus responds to the disciples and these followers, we’re stating to get a picture of what following Jesus is really like.

First of all, it ain’t easy: along the way, a certain person said to Jesus, “I’ll follow you anywhere!” I don’t know if he was expecting a high five, or what, but Jesus responds:

Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

Following Jesus is not about seeing the world. It’s not about obtaining a higher standard of living. In some cases, following Jesus may lead to homelessness. Following Jesus ain’t easy.

Then, Jesus himself invites someone else to follow. This follower seems ready, he answers the call, but just stipulates, “Please, Lord, let me go bury my father, and then I’ll be on board.” I don’t know if he was expecting condolences, or what, but Jesus responds:

Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Following Jesus takes 100% commitment.

Someone else said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” I don’t know if he was expecting a “World’s Greatest Son” mug, or what, but Jesus responds:

No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Following Jesus is an all encompassing calling that takes all of you — body, mind, and soul; it can’t be done half way. Even, it seems, to the detriment of one’s compassion and love for family.

Since we know Jesus is compassionate, and we know that he isn’t anti-family, what are we supposed to learn from these interactions? Can following Jesus… can being a disciple really have to be so drastic?

Well, let me ask you: have you ever had to make an all-or-nothing decision? I’m guessing you have. [family story…] When you take a job that requires you and maybe your family across the country…you can’t do that half way, can you?

Marriage? You can’t be married part-time.

And now, I can say for sure: you can’t have half of a baby.

Somethings, you can do half-heartedly. You can be a Heat fan last week, and a Marlins fan this week, but Jesus seems to be saying you can’t be half of a disciple. Why not?

I want you to hear closely what each of these potential followers of Jesus actually says when invited to follow:

“I will follow you wherever you go.”

“First, let me go bury my father.”

“Let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Ahhh. The first and most common mistake in following Jesus is making it all about me. Because I will give up when I get sick of having no place to lay my head; I will get stuck worrying about the dead instead of the living. I will drive that plow right into a tree, because I can’t keep from looking back. When discipleship puts me first, it’s frustrating and futile.

But the Good News is that discipleship is not about me putting me first, or you putting you first, but about us putting God first. It might sound like a simple change, but it makes all the difference.

One of the tools that Pastor Weitzel provided to us for our process of Spiritual Renewal is an essay called Does our language follow our prayer? In that essay, and in person, he has challenged us to think about the way we talk about these pivotal moments in our lives. What is the difference in asking just, “what do you think?” or “what’s your opinion,” and “how is God leading us,” and “what is God’s will?”

This is not just semantics.

This is discipleship in our own lives, e.g. “how is God calling me to make decisions about my work,” or “what is God’s will in my marriage?”

And it’s also discipleship in our lives together as church, “what is God calling us to do as the Body of Christ?” and “what is God’s will for our mission and ministry in this place?”

I know you can’t go back, but I wonder, what would have been Jesus’ response if the followers has said, “Yes, I’ll follow you, and how would you have me grieve the loss of my father.” “Yes, I’ll follow you, and what is your will for my family?”

Those are the questions of disciples. Those are questions of followers who know the mission of Jesus. Those are questions that put God first.

Putting God first means that it doesn’t matter that I don’t have the strength to give 100%. That I cannot completely let go of my own stubbornness. It doesn’t matter that I’m afraid to make the drastic leap of faith. Because the Lord that we follow … the God that we put first is the One with his face set on Jerusalem. And when he gets there, the leader we follow gives it all, 100%, for us.

In the pivotal moments — and every moment — of our lives: God calls us to follow and God leads us with 100% love, all encompassing grace, and drastic mercy.

Where is God leading us together next?