Would-Be Disciples

3/12/25 Bible Thought (Luke 9)

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Each and every one of us probably have a list of priorities on a day-to-day basis. We have things we need to do in a certain order in order to get everything done. Growing up, I was always taught you work first and then you play. There’s a necessary order to things, and if you put the top priorities first, then they’ll always get done. However, if you put lesser matters as your top priority, then there’s a good chance you won’t get to what matters most.

In Luke 9, we see a number of things going on. Jesus sends out His disciples, He feeds the 5,000, Peter professes that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus’ transfiguration occurs. Lots of great things, but I’d like to focus on the last part of the chapter today, after Jesus sets His face towards Jerusalem and a few people offer to follow Him. One man tells Jesus that he would follow Him anywhere (Lk. 9:57). Jesus responds that He has nowhere to lay His head (Lk. 9:58). Presumably, the man doesn’t follow.

Then, Jesus encounters another man, and this time, Jesus offers the invitation. “Follow me” the Lord Jesus beckons (Lk. 9:59a). This man, however, has an excuse. He responds, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father” (Lk. 9:59b). Jesus offers a harsh response, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:60). Again, it doesn’t appear that this man follows Jesus. Lastly, another man comes and offers to follow Jesus, saying, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (Lk. 9:61). Jesus responds, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62).

There are three potential disciples who all fall short in quick fashion. Two offer to follow Jesus, one is summoned to follow Him, but all of them have excuses. Two of them are willing to follow Him, but they just have some other things to take care of first. The first man wants to bury his father, the second man wants to say goodbye to his family. Things that we would probably esteem as understandable.

Biblical scholar, James Edwards, puts forth the idea that burying a dead parent was a “universally acknowledged moral duty.”^[1] It was part of someone honoring their parents. It was a responsibility that was expected and highly regarded. But Jesus says it takes the backseat to discipleship under Him.

Secondly, we imagine that saying goodbye to family shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Right? Even the great prophet Elisha is permitted to say goodbye to his family before becoming Elijah’s apprentice and successor. Elijah is one of the two who appear in this very chapter at the mount of transfiguration. He’s a pretty significant character. Yet, his successor could say goodbye to family.

So, what’s the deal here? Well, Luke recounts so clearly in this passage the issue of priorities. For Jesus, if you’re going to follow Him, this has to be the top priority. Jesus has to be the first love beyond all others.

He doesn’t want competition. Jesus has no interest in being awarded a silver medal from His followers, and He will play second-fiddle to no competing desires. Again, Edwards so powerfully says concerning the last would-be disciple, “One cannot call Jesus Lord, as this disciple-aspirant does, and then impose limits on his lordship.”^[2]

Earlier, in the same chapter, Jesus cried out,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Lk. 9:23-26).

Following Jesus is a whole-life enterprise. It’s costly. It’s hard. In it, we put our Lord before our preferences. We might not have a glamorous life, because we follow Him. Again, the eternal Word of God made flesh came and He didn’t have a home to lay His head in! Who are we to expect anything better?

We must deny ourselves in order to follow Him. We take up a cross, willing to give our lives not only in life, but in death, for Him. We are willing to lose our lives so that we might truly gain them. We cast aside what the world thinks, what the world wants, and what the world requires, and we focus entirely on what our Lord thinks, wants, and requires.

To any would-be disciple who offered to follow Jesus on the condition of, “Let me first…” Jesus says, “No thank you.” If He’s down the list of your priorities, He’s not interested in your so-called discipleship. Instead, we ought to willingly say, “Lord, You are first. My concerns are last. What do You have for me to do?” We may say that He is Lord, but if we were to look over our list of priorities in life, how far down the list does He come? How many other “firsts” do we have before we find His name listed?

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^[1] James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 300–301.

^[2] James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 301.