Who should I follow?
Rev Steve Murray
Luke 9 : 51-62
Yes, I stand before you today wearing my Chiefs Super Rugby jersey. Yes, Milner you did tell me not to wear this jersey to Church but that was 2 weeks ago when your Crusaders Team beat my Chiefs Team in the Semi-Final. Yes, Anita I do know that rugby is just a game. This sermon might be the last one I ever deliver once Bishop Peter hears about it. I accept that I am passionate about the Waikato & Chiefs Teams despite huge pressure from Auckland & Canterbury people to get me to change my allegiance. I agree that the Crusaders are the best team in the competition & I accept that the Blues are a better team than the Chiefs but I remain a dedicated loyal follower no matter what. It does however make any wins the Chiefs have all the sweeter.
At the start of today’s gospel reading there are 2 teams—Jews & Samaritans. They don’t like each other. Jesus wants to travel to Jerusalem. The direct & quickest way from Galilee to Jerusalem is through Samaria but most Jews avoid that route. There was a centuries old quarrel between the 2 teams. The Samaritans in fact did everything they could to hinder even hurt any bands of Jewish Pilgrims attempting to pass through. Accordingly, the Jews tended to avoid this direct route. However Jesus chose to take the direct route to Jerusalem. That was unusual. He extended a hand of friendship to 1 of the Samaritan villages along the way. That was unusual for a Jew to do that. The village refused to provide hospitality to Jesus prompting an angry response from James & John. Jesus rebuked his disciples for wanting to call down fire from Heaven on the village. Why? Because Jesus was focused on going to Jerusalem. Also the Disciples did not understand fully that the Messiah had come to Earth not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. James & John perhaps did not realize that salvation was open to all men & women & that included the Samaritans. Jesus loved the Samaritans & that was a lesson of tolerance for the Disciples. It is also a lesson of tolerance for us. It is interesting to note (see Acts) that Samaria became the first non-Jewish region to convert to Christianity. Would that have happened if this village had been destroyed by fire? The Good News is about love not fire from Heaven.
Another interesting fact about this journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is the need to climb the Judean mountains to reach the city. The sea of Galilee is about 300 feet below sea level whereas Jerusalem is about 2,700 feet above sea level. It paints a picture of going up to something. Jerusalem & for me 2 future journeys, 1 to the Cross & the other being the Ascension to Heaven. Was this in the mind of Jesus when he steadfastly & determinedly set his face to travel to Jerusalem. I think so.
Now let’s look at verses 57 to 62 of Luke’s Gospel. At first glance it appears that Jesus responds sharply to all 3 “ would be Followers ”. Each of them make what appear to be reasonable requests or statements. The first man makes a flamboyant general statement to Jesus that “ I will follow you wherever you go.” On the face of it that seems ok. However the response from Jesus hints that this 1st would be Follower is more interested in home comforts than the cost of Discipleship. The foxes & the Birds are better off than the Son of Man because they have homes. The advice to this 1st man might be “ Before you follow me, count the cost.”
To the 2nd would be Follower’s request to go first to his dead or dying Father Jesus’s response seems difficult if not harsh. “ Allow the dead to bury their own dead but as for you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God. ” If we are serious about being a follower of Jesus then we need to be all in & give priority to loving God, to loving our neighbours & to proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
To the 3rd would be Follower’s” request that he be allowed to go home to say farewell to family Jesus questions his focus using the story of the Ploughman. When a man ploughs a straight furrow he can only do that by looking forwards. If the man looks back over his shoulder there will be a crooked furrow. Jesus wants from each one of us a total commitment. He is honest with each of the 3 “would be Followers”. Jesus is teaching them, teaching us & teaching his Disciples about the cost of following him. He doesn’t want lukewarm Followers. Jesus wants us to focus on him. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul & strength. This 1st commandment rightly proceeds the 2nd commandment of “Love your neighbour as yourself”. I would be unable to love my neighbour unless I first love God.
So the question of who should I follow comes back to me to answer. It can’t be a rugby team. An abundant life is not just about rugby, racing and beer. For me I want to follow Jesus & it has to be a total commitment. I do need to count the cost of Discipleship. I do need to let the dead bury the dead. I do need to focus on Jesus and not look backwards. Easy to do? No! Worth doing? Yes. Thank you Jesus. Amen!