A blog from Sunday’s sermon on Luke 9:57–62
Many people today are happy to consume Christianity, but far fewer are willing to truly follow Christ.
Churches are full of people who like Jesus, admire Jesus, and even believe in Jesus, yet stop short of becoming genuine disciples. In Luke 9:57–62, Jesus exposes three major barriers that keep people from following Him fully. These barriers were present in the first century, and they are just as powerful today.
A disciple is not just someone who agrees with Jesus, but someone who follows Him. In the ancient world, a disciple followed a rabbi closely, learning his ways, imitating his life, and submitting to his authority. Following Jesus always begins with a decision, but it must continue with actual obedience.
Barrier #1: Consumerism (Luke 9:57–58)
As Jesus travels, a man enthusiastically declares, “I will follow You wherever You go.” At first glance, this sounds like the perfect response. He is eager, emotional, and confident. Yet Jesus’ reply is sobering:
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Jesus is making something very clear: following Him will not be comfortable.
This man initiates the decision to follow Jesus, but he appears caught up in the excitement of the moment. Jesus reminds him that discipleship comes with sacrifice. There is no promise of ease, security, or comfort.
Many people today will “follow” Jesus as long as it doesn’t cost too much.
- Don’t ask me to give up my time.
- Don’t ask me to give generously.
- Don’t ask me to change my priorities.
- Don’t send me somewhere uncomfortable.
This mindset turns Christianity into a product to be consumed rather than a life to be surrendered. It shows up in church hopping based on preferences, seeking Christian entertainment, and embracing a lifestyle that avoids the cross.
But Jesus never called us to comfort. He called us to die daily (Luke 9:23–25). In Roman times, a person was considered dead the moment they were nailed to a cross, not when they stopped breathing. True discipleship means total abandonment to Jesus, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be.
Application:
Our love of comfort can become an idol. Genuine discipleship requires full surrender to the lordship of Christ.
Barrier #2: Materialism (Luke 9:59–60)
Next, Jesus calls another man to follow Him. The man responds, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
At first, this sounds reasonable. After all, caring for a parent’s burial was a sacred duty. But historical context reveals more. Burial customs involved placing the body in a tomb, then returning about a year later to collect the bones and place them in an ossuary. Only after this process would the inheritance be distributed.
The fact that this man is with Jesus suggests his father had not just died. Even if he had, nothing urgent would have taken place that day. What this man was really saying was, “Let me wait until I secure my inheritance.”
Jesus responds firmly: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
The issue wasn’t family loyalty, it was materialism. This man was unwilling to follow Jesus until his financial future was secure. His trust was in money, not in Christ.
Scripture is clear: you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and money. Materialism is idolatry because it places trust in possessions rather than in the Provider.
Jesus echoed this truth elsewhere, calling His followers to be willing to lose everything for His sake (Luke 14:25–33). The rich young ruler is a tragic example. He walked away from Jesus sad because he loved his wealth more than Jesus.
Application:
Everything we own must be surrendered to Christ. He may not take it all, but He demands lordship over it all. We cannot follow Jesus while relying on materialism.
Barrier #3: Syncretism (Luke 9:61–62)
A third man offers to follow Jesus but asks first to say goodbye to his family. This seems reasonable. Even the prophet Elijah allowed Elisha to do something similar.
But Jesus responds with an illustration: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
In ancient farming, plowing required constant forward focus to keep a straight line. Looking back meant crooked rows.
The issue here is not politeness, it is divided loyalty. This man wanted to add Jesus to his existing life instead of replacing his old life with a new one. This is syncretism: simply adding Jesus to everything else we already love.
He wanted to keep his “BC” (Before Christ) life intact—relationships, priorities, and identity—while still following Jesus.
Scripture tells us we cannot love both the world and the Father (1 John 2:15–17). Lot’s wife looked back and revealed where her heart truly was.
Following Jesus means leaving the old life behind. We are not simply adding Jesus to our key ring, we are handing Him the whole set of keys.
Application:
True surrender means abandoning our former way of life. We cannot look back and cling to what Jesus has called us to leave.
Conclusion: Surrender Is Not Optional
Following Jesus is not about partial commitment or selective obedience. Salvation without surrender does not exist. Sanctification without surrender does not exist.
At some point, every would-be disciple must answer these questions:
- Have I fully surrendered my life to Jesus?
- Have I placed a blank check on the table?
- Have I already put my “yes” on the table before I know what He will ask?
Jesus is not looking for consumers. He is calling disciples. The only way forward is full surrender.
The question is simple: Will you follow Him no matter the cost?
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