Matthew 8:18-22 The Cost of Following Jesus

Following Jesus has a cost. We do well to understand that cost before we engage in following Jesus and as a constant reminder of the commitment we have made to this journey. 

In the narrative passages of Matthew, you find he mentions a specific follower with the crowd or crowds in the background. Here Matthew mentios a scribe and a disciple with the crowd. The crowd is a group of people who have heard of Jesus’ fame and is after his gifts. This kind of follower is interested in getting something - a healing, a feeding, a thrill. Following Jesus requires stepping out of that crowd and moving towards Jesus with a different attitude. It requires taking a risk as you identify yourself as a true follower. You will no longer blend in with the crowd. The scribe comes to Jesus and says: “I will follow you wherever you go.” A true follower is willing to go wherever the following takes him/her. Jesus spoke of a narrow gate:

Matthew 7:13 
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

                                               

The characteristics of this path is twofold: few find it and the way is hard.

20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus’ reply makes clear to the wannabe follower that the following will cost him. While animals and birds in nature have a resting place on earth, the Son of Man doesn’t, implying that all his followers will suffer the same fate. While on earth, Jesus’ followers will not have a place they can call home (Eph.2:19). It also implies that the following is not one of comfort and ease, but challenging and difficult. The title Son of Man comes from the book of Daniel (7:13-14) and speaks of the Messiah to come as one having a dominion, glory, and kingdom that are not of this earth, but in the heavenlies. When a person enters the kingdom, (s)he becomes a citizen of heaven (Phil.3:20) and at the same time a stranger and an alien upon the earth. No disciple is greater than his master. If Jesus was hated and persecuted, so will his disciples.

21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Jesus also makes clear that the follower would have to reset priorities. While the family is worthy of loyalty and priority, Jesus demands a higher loyalty and priority than family. Jesus has nothing against family or funerals, but the priorities of a Jesus’ follower cannot be in them. We have to go beyond being involved, like the chicken, to being committed, like the pig, to this ham and eggs breakfast.

Jesus calls us to follow, counting the cost, with unqualified commitment.

Psalm 31 Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

How timely and appropriate is this psalm for today, Good Friday. Jesus cited the words of verse five while he was on the cross. "Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' And having said this he breathed his last (Luke 23:46)." It is often said that the last words of a dying person are very special. These words are indeed special to all who believe in him. Christ continues to teach until his last breath.

In his hour of persecution and anguish, Christ called unto his Father. The relationship between Father and Son is very tight. He often said that he and the Father were one. As a big brother, Jesus is giving me example on how to depend on the Father in all circumstances. He wants me to have a tight relationship with my heavenly Father too, as well as with him. Persecution, prejudice, or prison should not deter me from praying to my Father. Who will I call in the last moments of my life on earth?

Christ commits his spirit into the hands of his Father. It is a prayer of surrender. When the inevitable is about to happen, Christ teaches me to pray and surrender my life. It is a prayer of trust. When all odds are stacked against me, I must turn to God and trust him to make the best out of my circumstances. Only in God's hands will I be truly secure. It is a prayer of commitment. While he had many options, Christ chose to pray to his Father, he was committed to this relationship. Christ teaches me to make the same commitment. In the last moments of life on earth, only the very important relationships in life will come to mind. Who will that be for me?

Christ lived his life depending on the Father's direction, guidance, and power. His dependence was evident in his time away from the crowds to cultivate communion with the Father through prayer. He did only what the Father told him to do. He said only the words the Father told him to say. Christ, just as he lived, he also died depending on his Father to take care of his spirit at his last breath. What do I depend on in life? What do I hold onto? Christ wants me to depend on my heavenly Father.

Father, I want to be one with you and your Son. Help me surrender, trust in, and commit to you every day, especially in the dark moments of my life. May I be dependent on you for my every move; for my every word. Amen.

Psalm 26 I WIll Bless the Lord

At first, when I read this psalm, it seemed to me that David was boasting in his self-righteousness. But as I meditated on his words, I realized that it is far from it. As he is accused by his enemies, David comes before the Lord and asks him to examine his life and see that by his grace and mercy, he has been walking on the path of righteousness.

When I am falsely accused, I should not fret, but seek God with more intensity. I should come before God's presence and ask him to prove me, try me, and test me. This does not mean that I am perfect and God will not find nothing wrong in my heart. But it means that I am committed to his ways and have not been intentionally practicing that which does not please him. Self-examination before God in times of distress is the best practice.

It is important to note that David's life of integrity is due to the Lord's grace upon him. The context of David's life is around the temple where the sacrifices and the word of God are ministered. He is not righteous on his own power, but thanks to the grace of God providing redemption for his life. I can't come up to God and recount all my good deeds as evidence of my righteousness. But I can come and recount my good deeds as evidence of the powerful grace of God that redeems me.

The result of the powerful grace of God at work in my life results in my commitment to continue to walk in integrity despite the accusations and despite the circumstances. Because of my relationship with God, my foot stands on level ground. Because of his mighty work in me, I will bless the Lord. Ultimately, God receives all the glory for anything worthy of notice in my life because my life is God's handiwork.

Father, may I seek you with all my heart when things are difficult, when people hurl accusations, when my life is in despair. May I commit to continue to live for you and obey your commands despite the circumstances. Amen.

Matthew 19:16-30 The Rich Young Man

It is easier for me to think of doing something to get eternal life. The concept "there is no free lunch" is pretty embedded within me. If I need something, I buy it. I work to earn the things I need. Unfortunately, the kingdom of God is not like that. The rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to receive eternal life and Jesus told him: "keep the commandments." To be certain to major on the important ones, the young man asks: "which ones?" Jesus goes through a partial list of the commandments and the young man feels pretty confident that he has kept them. He has done well.

But Jesus challenges the young rich man: "If you would be perfect..." The kingdom of God is about being. The doing follows the being. I turn God's kingdom upside down when I think that doing is what comes first. Doing without being is empty and void. My heart cannot be committed to the things I do unless I am changed from within. The Lord prescribes to the young rich man what he needs to be perfect: "sell what you possess, and give to the poor, and come follow me." The young rich man went away sorrowful...

What do I have to give up in order to be perfect? Do I own anything I must give up? Is there something in my life that I must give up? Are there habits that I must give up? Attitudes? Beliefs? Values? Lord, help me pinpoint what I need to give up to truly be perfect.

It is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (as difficult as passing a camel through the eye of a needle). Some scholars believe that the eye of a needle is a small entrance at the gate of a city. It is not easy for a camel to make it through. But if we go by the impossibility expressed by the disciples, it may actually be a thread needle becoming a figure of speech to express an impossibility. But for God nothing is impossible. He can change a rich man's heart. He can change my heart. Salvation, eternal life, entrance into the kingdom of God is not about performing the commandments; it is about being perfect and that being is brought about through the transformation power of our God alone.

There is no sacrifice (giving up something for less) in the kingdom of God. I can't give up anything for which God will not compensate me a hundredfold. My job, my salary, my family, my possessions, my anything cannot amount to more than what God can offer me. God promises me a compensation that cannot be measured by earthly possessions when I decide to follow him. When I decide to follow him into ministry, there is no sacrifice no matter what I give up.

Father, create in me a heart that is willing to abandon it all and follow you. I am yours. May nothing in this world hold me back from committing myself wholeheartedly to serve you.

Matthew 5:33-37 Oaths

To swear is to make a solemn statement about something as true; or to make a promise to do something. Swearing required invoking a divine witness. Swearing in itself was not prohibited. The problem Jesus is addressing is the use of God's name in vain during swearing. In other words, using swearing to lie or to make false promises.

The common practice of the day was to swear in such a way (e.g. for the temple, for the objects on the altar, etc...) that you could get out of your commitment without consequences. Christ is saying that our words are binding. If we speak, we commit. If we commit, we must follow through.

When I examine my speech, I realize that sometimes I am not careful with my words. I make commitments that I have no intentions of following through. I make promises that are designed to get people off my back, but has very little substance as to my commitment to make it happen. I speak rashly without counting the cost of what I am proposing. I let people down too often, especially those very close to me.

Lord, help me make a commitment to speak the truth always. Help me commit to follow through with my promises no matter how painful they may be to accomplish. Especially with my loved ones, give me sensitivity to speak clearly and not just to get them "off my back."

Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

John the Baptist is the precursor of our Lord Jesus Christ in fulfillment to Isaiah's prophecy. His message is of repentance. His lifestyle is austere. He preaches in a time of social, political and religious turmoil yet does not hesitate to challenge people with his message. His life and ministry is spent to point to the one people really need: Jesus Christ.

In his calling people to repentance, John makes clear that it is no mere ritual for cleansing to go out and sin again. It is supposed to bear fruit. He denounces the Pharisees and Saducees, the religious establishment of the day, for their hypocritical attitude in seeking a false repentance through his baptism. John's message is never compromised by anything or anyone. 

John's ministry is characterized by a peculiar lifestyle. He seems to have taken a vow before he started his ministry. He seems to have renounced to the common comforts of the day to devote himself to the ministry. He spent his days preaching repentance and pointing to our Lord Jesus Christ as the one people should follow. He did so all the way to his imprisonment and martyrdom.

I want to be like John the Baptist. I want to commit to a life and ministry that stands out in the world. Many times I feel that the many comforts of my lifestyle are a hindrance to seek God wholeheartedly. I have settled for what is comfortable and shy away from the difficult and more demanding. I want to be like John the Baptist. I want to commit to preach God's word without any compromises. The whole counsel of God for all people. Nothing should not stand in the way of my calling to preach the word.

Lord, give me the resolve to live a life that is constantly seeking you, totally dedicated to your call upon me, and always serving those who are around me. Anoint me to be your messenger without compromise in the community you have placed me. May I always be willing to pay the cost of my calling.