Lesson 53: Reasons Not to Follow Jesus (Luke 9:57-62)

Our tendency toward self-reliance and human wisdom doesn’t simply disappear when we’ve made up our minds to follow Jesus. We see Him here dealing with those who knew something of the value of being near to the One who could feed a crowd with a single sack lunch, calm a raging storm with a word, or hang out on a mountain with prophets who lived hundreds of years prior. What Jesus showed, however, was that coming to Him on any terms and timing other than His own was completely out of the question. Pastor Daniel helps us to understand the seemingly harsh words from Jesus in this passage by reminding us that, “discipleship means certain loss.” This includes the loss of physical possessions, the loss of family, and in essence, the loss of everything. While this is a sobering reality, it is put into perspective through the reminder that disciples also gain everything in gaining Christ.

Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff