In this text, we find...
Illustration
In this text, we find two pointed illustrations of how demanding this discipleship business
really is. First, Jesus was en route to Jerusalem for the last time. Passing through a
Samaritan village, he found neither he nor his disciples were welcomed. The disciples
knew how Jesus felt about Samaritans. Over and over he had reminded them that God
loved these outsiders and they were not his enemies. We can imagine the fury of James
and John when these Samaritans would not receive Jesus. Their response? Let's call fire
down on their heads and make an example to all those who would mistreat our Lord.
Jesus rebuked them. Interestingly, he did not speak harshly against the Samaritans who
had turned him away. This discipleship places restrictions on our feelings and our
actions. Those that follow him cannot respond as the world would respond.
In the second story, as Jesus moved along he called people to follow him. Each person said they would follow Jesus but each one had a good excuse of why they could not follow him at that time. One person said he had to bury his father first. Another said he had to say farewell to his friends and neighbors. Does discipleship demand that we ignore our familial responsibilities? No. The point here is that following Jesus is a demanding thing. Discipleship reaches into our feelings and into our families. No part of life can be left out.
The pastor of a Methodist church in Little Rock was giving a children's sermon. He asked the children if they could name the disciples. One little girl said, "Matthew." Another children said, "James." Someone said, "John." One little boy raised his hand and said, "Charlie." The children giggled and the adults in the sanctuary howled. The pastor asked the little boy, about four, what his name was. He said, "Charlie." At the close of the children's sermon, the pastor was wise enough to add at the end of his prayer, "And God bless the disciple Charlie." When we find our name in the story it changes how we respond to our enemies. When we find our name in the story the usual excuses we give do not stand up when Christ calls.
In the second story, as Jesus moved along he called people to follow him. Each person said they would follow Jesus but each one had a good excuse of why they could not follow him at that time. One person said he had to bury his father first. Another said he had to say farewell to his friends and neighbors. Does discipleship demand that we ignore our familial responsibilities? No. The point here is that following Jesus is a demanding thing. Discipleship reaches into our feelings and into our families. No part of life can be left out.
The pastor of a Methodist church in Little Rock was giving a children's sermon. He asked the children if they could name the disciples. One little girl said, "Matthew." Another children said, "James." Someone said, "John." One little boy raised his hand and said, "Charlie." The children giggled and the adults in the sanctuary howled. The pastor asked the little boy, about four, what his name was. He said, "Charlie." At the close of the children's sermon, the pastor was wise enough to add at the end of his prayer, "And God bless the disciple Charlie." When we find our name in the story it changes how we respond to our enemies. When we find our name in the story the usual excuses we give do not stand up when Christ calls.
