Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple …
“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
(verses 25-27, 33)
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Three times over Jesus gives conditions under which he says a person “cannot be my disciple.” These conditions may seem harsh and extreme, but at base they are simply single-minded. Which is the point.
When we hear Jesus say that we are to hate father, mother, wife, children, et al, we need to remember that he also tells us to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34), and “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:32). These commands are foundational to life in the kingdom. If we are committed to Jesus, we are committed to fulfilling these commandments of love. He doesn’t put them aside when he now uses the word “hate.” Rather, he uses that particular word as a means of contrasting all other loves with the foundational commitment of loving him. To be a disciple, Jesus himself must be first. No other relationship can intrude upon that priority. All others, by contrast, appear as “hate.” The word itself is meant to catch us off guard. It’s an extreme way of highlighting the necessity of single-minded devotion to Christ.
Jesus’ second condition for a disciple is that he “carry his cross and follow me.” So often this has simply been understood as warm-hearted encouragement to buck up and shoulder the hardships of life. While that may be necessary, the people of Jesus’ day knew the awful reality of someone carrying their own cross – they were going to their execution, losing their life. It’s an in-your-face way of saying that following Jesus requires us to set aside all else – our very life, goals, priorities, comforts, etc. – in order to prioritize him. If not, we can’t be his disciple.
The third condition sums it all up. “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” When I look into the life of the early church, I discover that some lived this out by selling their possessions and contributing it all to a common purse (as in Acts 2). Others, kept possessions, including houses, but used them for the common good – hosting church gatherings, offering hospitality to strangers, caring for family and others. But either way, Jesus’ command is to “give up everything.” It means consciously placing the ownership of it all into Jesus’ own hands. When he asks us to give, we don’t hold back. When he calls us to share, we do it generously. When we feel inclined to make a major purchase, we don’t move ahead without prayer, laying it before the Lord. When we have opportunity to acquire more wealth or possessions, we turn our eyes to him first, always asking: “Is this what you want? How will you use this, Lord?”
I find myself incredibly stretched by these statements, all three. None of this is a one-and-done endeavour. All of it calls me to live moment by moment in committed relationship with my Lord. To love him with all, no turning back. To follow his lead, laying down my life. To live the reality of Psalm 24 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” – knowing without question that this includes my home, my car, my bank account, my retirement savings, my everything.
All to Jesus’ glory. May it be.
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Lord Jesus, here I am, committed to following you. I choose to love you with all my being – I make you first in my life. I lay my life before you – it is no longer I who live, but you live in me. I give all that I am and have into your hands – if I grip anything too tightly, help me to see, and help me to hold all things loosely. To your glory. Amen.
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Reflect:
What are you gripping too tightly at the moment? What will it take for you to loosen your grip and entrust it to Jesus?
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Photo by Erik Mclean: https://www.pexels.com/.../man-in-black-jacket-and-black.../
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