Dearest e-votees-
Jesus lifts up the challenge to the adoring crowds to become more than just traveling companions but rather to be all-in, sold-out, full-on disciples.
It is so interesting that scripture doesn't record anyone's response to this bold call from Jesus. Would you have responded had you been there? If so, what would your response have been?
Peace,
Karl
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25 Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus]; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."
None of us like to look foolish. Doing something publicly and ending poorly can leave quite the impression on the short-sighted one and on the onlookers. When I was on internship I was chanting by myself while carrying in the Christ candle. I was to chant the same line three times singing it higher with each successive repetition. I realized almost immediately that I had started too high with the first line. As I continued my voice cracked and I was painfully aware of having started badly and finishing very much worse.
Wapato prion was built in Multnomah county. It was never used for its intended purposes. Taxpayers shell out $300,000 to $400,000 annually to maintain the prison. Apparently somewhere between the inception and the anticipated use of the facility something went terribly wrong. The facility has become an object of ridicule and scorn.
Becoming a disciple of God is a costly endeavor. It cost God much to restore us on the cross. It costs us much to take up our own crosses and follow after Jesus. How tragic were we to begin the journey of discipleship, without counting the cost, and end up in a bankrupt way long before the end of our journey. We should heed Jesus' words and avoid being like the tower-builder or the king in the gospel lesson appointed for this week or the screeching candle-bearer or the misguided prison builders.
There are two things in these parables: an initial assessment and then the resolution. Such is the way with us. The initial assessment is that we are unable to save ourselves. We are sinful and needy. God, seeing that we cannot free ourselves, came as one of us. Jesus made the costly move to do what we cannot. The initial assessment is that we are redeemable and worthy by the one who fashioned the entirety of creation.
The resolution comes with God beginning work in us and bringing it to completion (see Philippians 1:6). God has counted the cost and God can make and has made a satisfactory payment. If we attempt to finish what God has begun we only serve to make things worse. We draw away from God's mercy and grace and try to make salvation a thing of works and human righteousness. We make God out to be an insufficient Lord and put ourselves back towards the prison from which we have been sprung.
One of the the possessions we need to give up to be Jesus' disciple is any hope of us adding to the salvation that has been bestowed on us.
God, you have called us to be your disciples. Help us never try to add or detract from that high calling. Amen.
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