Jesus teaches about the cost of being a disciple. We have often heard that “anything worth having will cost you.” That’s all the motivation many people need, but following Jesus is not the same as deciding to buy that dream car or book a family cruise. Yes, discipleship will cost you; and it is a decision that must be weighed carefully. And Jesus stops yet again to teach.
READ Luke 14:25–35.
Jesus was growing in popularity. He and his disciples had been on a whirlwind journey of teaching and healing, and the crowd now was bigger than ever after the healing of the “bent over” woman. Everyone was caught up in being with Jesus; and then in the presence of his host, a prominent Pharisee, Jesus healed another. Everyone was ready to throw caution to the wind and sign on to being a disciple. In the midst of this, Jesus interrupted himself and told them: “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Jesus wanted the crowd to think through their excitement about him and to acknowledge what it would mean to really follow him.
REFLECT on what it means to “give up everything.”
This message was adapted from the “Lessons for Today’s Disciples” resource written by Valora K Starr and available from the Women of the ELCA website.
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