The Costly Mission
The Costly Mission: Understanding the True Price of Following Jesus
In a world where Christianity is often presented as an easy path to blessing and prosperity, we need to confront an uncomfortable truth: following Jesus comes with a significant cost. This isn't the message many want to hear, but it's the reality that Jesus himself presented to those who wanted to follow him.
The mission of the cross wasn't a random series of events. It was history unfolding with divine purpose - a mission born from the Father's heart before the foundation of the world. The Son stepped into our brokenness, knowing he would be misunderstood and rejected, yet he came to offer salvation to the very people who would reject him most.
Many people were drawn to Jesus because of the excitement surrounding him - the crowds, the miracles, the momentum. Who wouldn't want to be part of something where the blind see, the lame walk, and the oppressed are delivered? There was energy in the air and hope was rising. But being part of what Jesus was truly doing meant more than standing in the crowds or riding the wave of excitement. It meant picking up a cross and following Jesus on a road that would lead to death.
Why Do People Want the Kingdom Without the Cross?
It's easy to want the glory of the crowds, but much harder to walk the lonely road that follows. Many want the kingdom, but no one wants the cross. Many want a crown, but no one wants the thorns. This brings us to a crucial question that never goes away in our lives: Will you pay the price of following Jesus, or will you only accept Jesus on your own terms?
The Three Men
In Luke 9:57-62, we encounter three men who approached Jesus with what seemed like genuine interest in following him. Each represents a different type of response to the call of discipleship.
The Enthusiastic Follower (Rocky Soil)
The first man boldly declared, "I will follow you wherever you go." He was fired up, ready to take on the world, believing he could make a difference. But Jesus responded with a reality check: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
This man represents those who are drawn to the glamour and excitement but never stop to consider the cost. In his imagination, Jesus was leading him on an exciting, carefree adventure filled with glory and prestige. But Jesus stripped away the illusion, revealing the true cost of discipleship. Like seed that falls on rocky soil, this type of commitment sprouts quickly but has no root system for endurance. When the heat of the day comes, it withers away.
The Man with Good Excuses (Thorny Soil)
The second man was actually called by Jesus to follow him, but he responded, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." In Jewish culture, this was one of the most vital responsibilities a person could have. It took priority over almost every other religious obligation.
Jesus' response would have shocked the audience: "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
This man represents those who allow the cares of this world to choke out their spiritual life. When the King calls, the response cannot be delayed. You don't put the kingdom on hold because culture tells you to value something else.
The Half-Hearted Follower (The Pathway)
The third man said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." This seemed reasonable - even Elijah had allowed Elisha to say goodbye to his family before following him into ministry. But Jesus responded, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
For farmers, efficiency required straight plow lines, and you couldn't plow straight while looking back. The survival of a farmer and his family depended on making straight lines in the dirt. Jesus knew that to make a straight line, you cannot be looking back.
What Soil Are You Planted In?
These three responses represent different types of soil in Jesus' parable of the sower:
Only seed that falls on good, fertile soil produces lasting fruit. To fall on fertile soil, you cannot look back. It requires letting go of everything so you can be planted where God wants you.
Conditional Discipleship Vs True Discipleship
The problem with conditional discipleship is that it's not true discipleship at all. When you're attached to things - whether past successes or failures - you can't be moved where the Spirit is leading you. You end up planted in bad soil instead of the fertile ground God has prepared. We've sold a false version of Christianity that promises everything will be perfect when you give your life to Jesus. But true discipleship is costly and takes time. It requires complete surrender, not partial commitment.
When Jesus calls, he's not asking for partial loyalty or partial commitment. He's calling for complete surrender. You don't bargain with the King or make your own demands of the kingdom. The call of God is uncomfortably shocking at times because the demand of the kingdom is often offensive to our natural thinking. But when the King calls, you drop everything to follow him.
Life Application
This week, honestly examine your relationship with Jesus. Are you following him unconditionally, or are you trying to follow him on your own terms? Are you looking back at what you've left behind, or are you moving forward with complete surrender?
The cost of discipleship is significant, but as Peter wrote, "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
Questions for reflection:
The mission of the cross is costly, but it's the only path to true life and lasting fruit. Will you pay the price of following Jesus, or will you only accept him on your own terms?
In a world where Christianity is often presented as an easy path to blessing and prosperity, we need to confront an uncomfortable truth: following Jesus comes with a significant cost. This isn't the message many want to hear, but it's the reality that Jesus himself presented to those who wanted to follow him.
The mission of the cross wasn't a random series of events. It was history unfolding with divine purpose - a mission born from the Father's heart before the foundation of the world. The Son stepped into our brokenness, knowing he would be misunderstood and rejected, yet he came to offer salvation to the very people who would reject him most.
Many people were drawn to Jesus because of the excitement surrounding him - the crowds, the miracles, the momentum. Who wouldn't want to be part of something where the blind see, the lame walk, and the oppressed are delivered? There was energy in the air and hope was rising. But being part of what Jesus was truly doing meant more than standing in the crowds or riding the wave of excitement. It meant picking up a cross and following Jesus on a road that would lead to death.
Why Do People Want the Kingdom Without the Cross?
It's easy to want the glory of the crowds, but much harder to walk the lonely road that follows. Many want the kingdom, but no one wants the cross. Many want a crown, but no one wants the thorns. This brings us to a crucial question that never goes away in our lives: Will you pay the price of following Jesus, or will you only accept Jesus on your own terms?
The Three Men
In Luke 9:57-62, we encounter three men who approached Jesus with what seemed like genuine interest in following him. Each represents a different type of response to the call of discipleship.
The Enthusiastic Follower (Rocky Soil)
The first man boldly declared, "I will follow you wherever you go." He was fired up, ready to take on the world, believing he could make a difference. But Jesus responded with a reality check: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
This man represents those who are drawn to the glamour and excitement but never stop to consider the cost. In his imagination, Jesus was leading him on an exciting, carefree adventure filled with glory and prestige. But Jesus stripped away the illusion, revealing the true cost of discipleship. Like seed that falls on rocky soil, this type of commitment sprouts quickly but has no root system for endurance. When the heat of the day comes, it withers away.
The Man with Good Excuses (Thorny Soil)
The second man was actually called by Jesus to follow him, but he responded, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." In Jewish culture, this was one of the most vital responsibilities a person could have. It took priority over almost every other religious obligation.
Jesus' response would have shocked the audience: "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
This man represents those who allow the cares of this world to choke out their spiritual life. When the King calls, the response cannot be delayed. You don't put the kingdom on hold because culture tells you to value something else.
The Half-Hearted Follower (The Pathway)
The third man said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." This seemed reasonable - even Elijah had allowed Elisha to say goodbye to his family before following him into ministry. But Jesus responded, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
For farmers, efficiency required straight plow lines, and you couldn't plow straight while looking back. The survival of a farmer and his family depended on making straight lines in the dirt. Jesus knew that to make a straight line, you cannot be looking back.
What Soil Are You Planted In?
These three responses represent different types of soil in Jesus' parable of the sower:
- Rocky soil: Quick growth but no endurance when trials come
- Thorny soil: Growth that gets choked out by worldly cares
- The pathway: No growth at all because the seed gets trampled
Only seed that falls on good, fertile soil produces lasting fruit. To fall on fertile soil, you cannot look back. It requires letting go of everything so you can be planted where God wants you.
Conditional Discipleship Vs True Discipleship
The problem with conditional discipleship is that it's not true discipleship at all. When you're attached to things - whether past successes or failures - you can't be moved where the Spirit is leading you. You end up planted in bad soil instead of the fertile ground God has prepared. We've sold a false version of Christianity that promises everything will be perfect when you give your life to Jesus. But true discipleship is costly and takes time. It requires complete surrender, not partial commitment.
When Jesus calls, he's not asking for partial loyalty or partial commitment. He's calling for complete surrender. You don't bargain with the King or make your own demands of the kingdom. The call of God is uncomfortably shocking at times because the demand of the kingdom is often offensive to our natural thinking. But when the King calls, you drop everything to follow him.
Life Application
This week, honestly examine your relationship with Jesus. Are you following him unconditionally, or are you trying to follow him on your own terms? Are you looking back at what you've left behind, or are you moving forward with complete surrender?
The cost of discipleship is significant, but as Peter wrote, "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
Questions for reflection:
- What attachments in your life might be preventing you from falling on fertile soil?
- Are you trying to bargain with God instead of surrendering completely to his will?
- What would it look like for you to stop looking back and move forward in complete obedience to Christ's call?
The mission of the cross is costly, but it's the only path to true life and lasting fruit. Will you pay the price of following Jesus, or will you only accept him on your own terms?
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