The Gospel of Luke portrays discipleship in a really interesting way. Starting from Luke 9:51, Jesus and his disciples embark on a journey from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem where Jesus will be crucified. During this fascinating journey, Jesus teaches and trains His disciples.
In a previous post we looked at the first few verses of the journey (Luke 9:51-57). The next thing that Luke records is Jesus encountering three different people as they travel along the road. Each encounter highlights an aspect of discipleship and together they provide a very challenging depiction of what it means to truly follow Jesus.
The first encounter is with someone who seems to make a rather bold statement.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57-58 (NIV)
Following with preconceived ideas
In Matthew’s account of this incident (Matthew 8:19-20), the man who approaches Jesus is described as a Teacher of the Law. If that is the case, he would understand what it means to follow a rabbi or teacher. A rabbi would normally have a home, a family, a synagogue where he taught, and a following of people who would come and listen to his teaching.
The man who comes to Jesus is using the language of discipleship, essentially saying to Jesus, “I will follow you, whatever place you go.” But Jesus replies that there is no “place” that He is going to rest or settle down. As Jesus says, foxes and birds have places they can rest, but He does not.
I wonder what preconceived ideas the man had regarding what it meant to follow Jesus? This prompts the question, do we have any preconceived ideas that might blind us to fully hearing and following Jesus?
Following means always moving forward
The journey of discipleship is not found in one location, nor is it something that is static – it’s a journey. Jesus and his disciples are literally “walking along the road,” and that is significant. Discipleship will always require Jesus followers to be moving forward in some way.
Following means counting the cost
Notice that Jesus does not say “no” to the man. Instead, He outlines what the cost will be. This Teacher of the Law would have to leave his home, his synagogue, and his circle of influence in order to be a follower of Jesus. His whole life would have to change. Had he really thought about this? It seems that maybe he had not really thought this through or counted the cost of what he was so boldly declaring.
The man says, “I will follow you wherever you go.” The first time in the Bible that this word “wherever” is used is very telling – and what’s interesting is that it’s also in the context of a journey. Ruth, who is from the land of Moab, is talking with her mother-in-law Naomi as they begin the long journey back to Naomi’s Jewish homeland (see Ruth 1:6-11).
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
This conversation happens “on the road” (Ruth 1:7). Just like Jesus and his disciples, they have already begun their journey when this significant encounter takes place.
But unlike the man who approaches Jesus, Ruth does not make an ill-considered declaration. She has counted the cost. Ruth understands that she is giving up her homeland, her culture, her gods, her family and friends, to go to a place she has never been, to live among people she is unfamiliar with.
Following starts with relationship
Why did Ruth decide to continue the journey with Naomi, despite the cost? Maybe it was because of her relationship with Naomi and the godly example Naomi has been through loss, grief and destitution. Even though Naomi sees herself as “bitter” rather than “pleasant” (which is what her name means) (Ruth 1:20-21), Ruth sees something more that compels her to not only give up everything to follow Naomi, but to embrace Naomi’s God wholeheartedly.
On the road with Jesus
As believers, we are already “on the road” of discipleship with Jesus. And just like the man Jesus encounters and like Ruth, at some point we will all have to count the cost of continuing to follow. It forces us to re-look at our priorities. It asks questions about what’s most important in our lives.
And these are good questions to ask. We don’t need to be afraid of Jesus’ questions, or of letting go of things that ultimately are much less valuable than the joy of following Him.
So let’s embrace the our discipleship journey wholeheartedly, whatever that means for you right now. Let’s get as close to Jesus as we can and look forward to whatever is next.
