Counting the Cost
In Luke 14:25, Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem. Once there, he knows he will be arrested, tortured, and brutally murdered. However, in that moment Jesus remains wildly popular. The text says, “Great crowds accompanied him.” Along the way, Jesus turns and addresses them. His words are surprising. Rather than encourage his admirers, it seems Jesus wants to thin the herd! In Luke 14:26-33 he challenges them, “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…So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (26-27, 33).
With these words, Jesus makes clear—there’s a difference between being part of the crowd and being his disciple. The multitudes loved Jesus because of what he did—his miracles, his preaching, his willingness to confront abusive religious leaders—along with their expectation he would soon deliver them from Rome’s rule. However, there’s more to discipleship than following Jesus for the sake of benefits received. Those who would be his disciples must ultimately love Jesus for who he is—God become human, Lord of all Creation, our Hope of salvation!
What, then, separates a true disciple from a member of the crowd? First, a disciple’s relationship with Jesus supersedes his or her relationship with everyone else—including their own family. In fact, Jesus’ language in verse 26 is so strong it’s often misunderstood! When telling us that being His disciple requires us to “hate” our parents, siblings or children, Jesus isn’t calling us to despise our loved ones. In fact, God commands us to honor our parents and provide for our families. The point Jesus makes is that our commitment to Him must take priority over our commitment to family and friends.
Christ’s command is necessary because we have no guarantee that our loved ones will trust and follow him. In fact, Jesus warns that in the last days, “brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death” (Mark 13:12). In light of this, it’s possible someone you deeply love will reject (or has already rejected) both Jesus and you. Should that day come, how will you respond? Will your faith stand firm? Will you continue to follow and worship Christ? In the midst of your grief, will continue to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
But not only does a disciple love Jesus more than his own family, a true disciple loves Jesus more than his own self. In verse 27, Jesus continues, Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Likewise, in verse 33 he declares, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
Remember, in the days of Jesus, a cross wasn’t a piece of jewelry. Nor was a cross used to decorate a wall or a building. In Jesus day the cross was an instrument of execution and death. When Jesus declares that a disciple must bear his own cross, he’s telling us that those who come to him come to die. Why? Because we cannot find new life in Christ until we die to our old life of sin and self-centeredness. By God’s grace, dying to self means living for Jesus. Dying to self means His values become our values. His purpose becomes our purpose. His will becomes our will—even when sacrifice is required. But above all else—dying to self means his life becomes our life. And what a glorious life that is!
Are you a disciple? Or just a part of the crowd? Do you love Jesus more than anyone else—including you?