Carry Cross, Renounce Possessions

  

 Luke 14: 24-33

The Cost of Being a Disciple

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Being a Follower, or Disciple of Jesus is not an easy commitment, as Jesus himself outlines. Life's aches and pains are already heavy, but to reject family (when asked), to pick up our cross(es), follow Jesus, and "give up everything" seem more than humanly possible. The cost, in human, material terms, seems over the top, but fixing our focus on Jesus who took on our human nature, truly becoming one of us (Divinity becomes humanity) is even more astounding.  Reflecting on it gives us some some clue of the price Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to pay so that we might come to a small understanding of his limitless love for us. Looking at it this way, we see that there is no price to great for the privilege of being one of this disciples.

Bro. Rene