Series on Luke
IV The Imperatives of the Kingdom
A Increasing Opposition
2 Serving the Son
Text: 9:57-62
Introduction
Here in this Scripture Jesus is dealing with three people who had problems in following him. We may go back a few verses to James and John in verse 54 and find a fourth. Each of these had certain personality quirks and attitudes towards life which influenced their response. Their problems are our problems. In the 1960’s Tim LaHaye wrote a book entitled, “Spirit Controlled Temperament.” In this book he outlined four basic types of human personality which were originally described by Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Hippocrates named these personality types choleric, sanguine, melancholy, and phlegmatic. There is danger in this kind of classification! First of all because none of us fits any one category, and also because we are likely to be intimidated into thinking that we do fall exclusively in one category. On the other hand it is valuable to see how our personalities affect our concept of discipleship and I am not the first to suggest that Jesus is dealing with different types of people here. I have reclassified them as powerful, passionate, perfectionist, and pleasant. In looking at the way Jesus deals with them we may see more clearly our own foibles and it should help us to follow Him.
I Powerful
Let us go back a step to James’ and John’s reaction when the Samaritans refused to help Jesus in verses 52-55, And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. The sons of thunder are the power brokers of the Apostles; strong willed, practical and quick. They are the people who take control. They are self-sufficient and successful and when others quit they push ahead. Scripture gives abundant witness that John’s personality was transformed by the grace of God. The last thing we need is to point the finger and say so and so is like that. What we need to do is to see how we are like this, and some of us are very much this way. Such people are needed. The fact that Jesus chose them as his Apostles is enough. But here Jesus rebukes them because their attitude is inappropriate. To be his followers they need to learn humility and patience. They need to make room for the Holy Spirit to work. They are getting in the way. Of course none of us are like this, so we can move on to the second group.
II The Passionate
This man in verses 57 and 58 is the one we describe as warm-blooded, As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He is friendly, genial, lovable, outgoing. He is desperately needed and Jesus wants him in the company of his disciples. but he has a weakness. He tends to be superficial, to fail to count the cost, and to make quick emotional commitments. He says I will follow you wherever you go. This reminds me of Peter who said to the Lord at the last supper, “I am ready to go with you to prison and death.” Jesus replied, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny three times that you know me.” This is the man who agrees to do things because he is emotionally moved but fails to follow through. He is somewhat egotistical as we know Peter was. Jesus needs him. He is a great follower, but he needs to learn the lesson of counting the cost. Do you realize what you are saying Jesus says to the man. Of course, again, none of us are like this so we can move on to the third group.
III The Perfectionist
You read verses 59 and 60 and you’re liable to think this is a cop-out, He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” If you think it is a cop out I believe you are misreading the situation. The Bible commands us to honor our father and mother and it says anyone who does not care for those of his own household is worse than an infidel. This man is very sensitive, analytical, and self-sacrificing, and he wants to be loved. If ever there was someone concerned about doing the right thing it is this man, and he is on the horns of a dilemma. James and John would probably have hired somebody to solve the problem. The second man would probably have rushed in anyway, but we need people like this third man. Jesus wants disciples like this. Where would the Church, or the Reformation be without such people. However, he needs to have faith and trust in God. There is an Apostle we call doubting Thomas, probably an unkind description. He was thorough. at times he was what we might call uptight. Remember what Jesus says to him? Thomas, you have seen and believed. blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Jesus reminds this man that the situation will be resolved. because there are others to do the job who do not have his calling. He needs to loosen up without surrendering his principles, and he will make a great contribution to the kingdom. But as we all know, there is nobody here like this so let us move on to the fourth group.
IV The Pleasant
The man in verses 61 and 62 is an easy-going Joe. I’ll be there in a minute, no hurry, Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” He is so cool, and un-excitable. He is a joy to be with, most of the time. Often humorous he makes people laugh, but he’s kind of impatient with the perfectionist and he likes to pour cold water on the great plans made by the powerful. The overall effect is that although he sees the need and cares about it he tends not to get involved. I suspect that the apostle Nathaniel also called Bartholomew was like this. Phillip comes to Nathaniel at the beginning of John’s gospel, all serious, saying we have found the Messiah whom Moses wrote about in the law and the prophets also wrote about and Nathaniel says, “Nazareth! can any good thing come from there?” But Jesus immediately sees some good in Nathaniel as he does in all the others and he says, Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false. Instead of saying this is a bad situation let’s do something about it, or rushing in where angels fear to tread, or worrying himself sick over it, this fellow says why doesn’t somebody do something about this? Of course nobody in the Church ever talks like that, but we’ve run out of groups. If you didn’t fit in here somewhere look harder in the mirror. We should all realize that most of us are like one of these people some of the time, and some of us are like some of these people most of the time. We need Jesus’ counsel.
Conclusion
Whether we are the take charge type of individual, or the kind that rushes in, or the serious minded, or the easy going, God loves each one and has placed each one in his church for the benefit of all. What we need to realize is that each of us has to learn to temper our individuality through Christ. The Lord here is not pushing ahead of his Father, and he’s not making a superficial commitment. neither is he anxious or letting someone else do it. He is committed to the cross. He has set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem to die for his people. Those that follow must take seriously their commitment and they must truly follow by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts. They must endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ which means being willing to change and become more like their Savior no matter what their natural inclinations. If Jesus had been like one of these potential disciples, there never would have been a cross, and forgiveness for us sinners.
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