$h!t Jesus Says, Part 4: Follow Me

So here's the challenge for this sacred body of believers. We can play church or we can be the Church. We can pretend to worship and honor Jesus. Or we can imitate him, making God's glory visible in every space we enter.

He Qi, The Holy Spirit, 1996. Oil.

As we continue through this summer sermon series,  an unexpected theme seemed to holistically emerge. We shouldn't be surprised that it's one centered on the concept of what it means to follow Jesus.

More than just being obedient to a particular set of rules, a call to follow Jesus is a call to a radical reorientation of the way we do things.

The thing is, Jesus wants us to be kingdom focused not self-focused, which  will undoubtedly require certain sacrifices many of us won't want to make. And even if we did, we might feel too inadequate or  just simply don’t know how or where to begin.

As we can see from our reading today, this theme continues to show up, as Jesus challenges our understanding of faith and our willingness to live it out as God’s beloved children.  Here's what is written in the Gospel of Luke 9:57-62.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” And Jesus[a] said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”                                                                                                            - Luke 9:57-60

On his way towards Jerusalem, Jesus has a brief encounter with three people seeking to be his disciples. The first one swears to follow him wherever he goes. The second one, whom Jesus invites to tag along, has to attend his father’s funeral first. And the third, simply wants to say goodbye to his wife and kids before he leaves.
 
Such simple responses and requests, right? So why does it seem Jesus is being dismissive to these would-be disciples? It’s not like him to be so disparaging. He must be doing something else. As we’ve been discussing this past month, Jesus isn’t  about dissing us, or shaming us. He wants to transform us and empower us for doing the work of the kingdom.

I think he says some weird shit like this to awaken and shake us from our slumber. Most of what is spoken from Jesus is said to challenge and change our perspective, and how we see ourselves in relationship to God and one another.
 
In his book Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer writes, “For Jesus, salvation is less about getting you into heaven and more about getting heaven into you. It's not just about Him becoming like us but also about us becoming like Him. It's less of a transaction and more of a transformation.”  In other words, how we follow is just as important as who we follow because both have eternal consequences.
 
Now, imagine Jesus inviting you to follow him. What would you say? Personally, I would like to believe I’d just get up and go, but I’m pretty sure I’d have some hesitations or questions.
 
Will I have to leave the church I helped plant? Am I allowed to bring my wife and kids? Should I pack a few pairs of clean socks and underwear?

What if Jesus came knocking on your door while you were doing laundry, or preparing dinner? Would you say “Yes, but…first let me fold the clothes or turn off the oven? That does not sound unreasonable, does it.

The thing is, Jesus doesn’t want any hesitation, he only wants action. He doesn’t need a “Yes, but.” He needs a “Yes, and.”
 
According to Luke’s story, which is also found in Matthew’s gospel, this might mean having to let go of everything that is materially important to you - your job, your home, your car and clothes, and even your loved ones - to faithfully follow him. It could even mean letting go of things that might be spiritually important to you. This is why it never surprises me that this is where most of us leave Jesus by the side of the road.
 
As I read this story, I couldn't help but wonder why Jesus felt the need to be so hard on these three. Couldn’t he have cut them some slack? I mean, what would it really cost his mission to give them a couple of minutes to say goodbye to his loved ones, or attend to his father’s funeral.

And yet, instead of showing kindness and placating their request, Jesus abruptly says, “Let the dead bury their own dead.”
 
To understand why that was some crazy shit to hear, we need to know how death was understood in ancient Jewish traditions.

First of all, death was seen and understood as a separation from God. Afterwards, one transitioned to Sheol, a shadowy existence devoid of the fullness of life. The psalmists often write about this lamenting, “In death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?” (Psalm 6:5)

Second, burial rites were a sacred duty, deeply ingrained in the cultural and religious fabric. By asking a potential disciple to leave family duties and ritual observances behind, Jesus isn’t winning over many people.
 
Then again, Jesus isn’t looking to make friends as much as he needs to make more disciples. And this entails a radical reorientation of one’s priorities. One where your focus isn’t on the self, but on God and the kingdom of heaven.
 
There is nothing on your calendar or to-do list that is more important or more imperative than making God’s will your highest priority. So, if we want to follow Jesus then we must leave behind the spiritually dead ways of life, let go of that which is not life-giving. Therein lies the problem we face today.
 
Somewhere in history, Christians went from following Jesus to worshipping him. It might seem like a subtle difference, but as Richard Rohr argues in his book On The Threshold of Transformation, this has made us a religion of “belonging and believing” instead of a people of doing and transforming. 
 
A religion of belonging and believing is more concerned about who’s in and who’s out; what specific doctrines are held and practiced. A religion of transformation, on the other hand, focuses on change. Which only happens by getting your hands dirty - living out the gospel in real time.

Now, I hate to be the one who has to mention this, but nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say "Worship me." Yet, in all four gospels he repeatedly says, “Follow me.”

More than just walking beside him, this means to do what he does. Welcome who he welcomes. Love who he loves. Jesus clearly says, “Whatever you do to the hungry and naked and dying, you do also to me” (Matthew 25:31-46).
 
Putting up the Ten Commandments in schools doesn't make you a good Christian if you continue to take away a student’s free lunch, and support limiting their health care. When you cheer the Supreme Court's ruling to make homelessness a crime, remember Jesus says, “foxes and birds have homes, but I have nowhere to lay my head.”
 
Following Jesus is hard work. He doesn’t try to hide it. He says, “Whoever want to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
 
The mark of discipleship is self-denial and making a total commitment to live out the gospel like Jesus did with every fiber of his being. For it’s in the doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly that transforms us, strengthens us, and prepares us to deal with whatever lies ahead.

This won’t make you popular. Or famous. Or even admired. In fact, you’ll be mocked and ridiculed. Like Jesus says, “People will hate you and revile you because of me” (Luke 6:22-23)
 
Let me say it again, the way of Jesus is countercultural. His way is a threat to our conventional wisdom and the powers that try to control it. But again, his focus isn’t on fitting into society. He came to transform it, to usher in the kingdom of heaven, which he does this by making God’s love and grace visible and tangible everywhere he goes.
 
Jesus calls out to us, to follow him, to walk this path and continue what he started. Because according to him, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37-38). The poet Wendell Berry wrote,  “There is much good work to be done by every one of us, and we must begin to do it.”

God needs all hands on deck. We can’t compartmentalize our faith anymore. We can’t wait until the clothes are folded and put away. Or the pizza’s done baking. There is no time for a good-bye party. Or a pity party. People are suffering from hunger and injustice, bigotry and violence. Homes are being destroyed. Children orphaned. Jobs lost. A whole generation is growing up without even knowing who Jesus is, muchless what God’s mercy and compassion feels like on their pain.
 
And so I look at this passage and all I can see is Jesus telling these three people there’s no time for half-hearted disciples. Or to put it in words we might understand better today, Jesus wants a 24/7 commitment. One that calls us to put our needs and wants behind us. And to never looks back.
 
We must let go of what is spiritually dead in our lives if we want to truly embrace the abundant life that Jesus offers. We must prioritize our spiritual commitments over societies expectations; even if it means sacrificing career ambitions for a life of service. Jesus gives us this assurance. “If you hold to my teachings,” he says,  “you are truly my disciple” (John 8:31).
 
To follow Jesus is to set aside our ego and desires, so we can faithfully love God, love others, and serve both. The nature of our faith is revealed by who we follow and what we do - bearing the fruit of the kingdom.

This is the greatest form of worship we can give to God. Hymns and prayers are nice, but you and me are better. The truth is stated clearly in James' letter to the churches. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead” (James 2:26).
 
You might not know what God needs you to do, or where you are being led to go but I don’t think that matters. Anamesa is everywhere. And God is too, filling that space between where you’ve been and where you’re going. Let us not forget Jesus says, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with you” (Mt. 18:20)
 
We are not alone. And through the Spirit of Christ, we are empowered to do what many might believe is impossible. Our Lord says, “I am the true vine and you are my branches. No branch can bear fruit by itself…If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).
 
So here’s the challenge for this sacred body of believers. We can play church. Or we can be the church. We can pretend to worship and honor him. Or we can imitate him, making God’s glory visible in every space we enter.
 
Through our acts of kindness and love, we can embody the life-giving presence of Christ for others. And in all the ways we show mercy and forgiveness, we can bear witness to the hope of his resurrection. To do this faithfully means an important part of us must die. But like Jesus declares, “whoever loses their life for His sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
 
As we go out into Anamesa, may we do so with a deep trust in God’s transformative power and promise; embracing the abundant life that Jesus gives to all.

May we never lose sight of the peace, joy, and sense of purpose that comes from following him - knowing it far outweigh any temporal sacrifices we are called to make.
 

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Work Cited
Comer, John Mark. Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like him, and do as he did. (WaterBrook, 2024).
Rohr, Richard. On The Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations of Men. (Loyola Press, 2010).