DEDICATED DISCIPLES

Text: Matthew 8:18-22
Readings: Matthew 8:14-22

Congregation,

Imagine you are an employer and you have advertised a job vacancy. Out of those who apply for the position you decide to interview two people. 

One applicant is very eager, bursting with enthusiasm, ready to go, keen to take up the job. But you are uncertain: Does he have what it takes? Maybe he is rushing into something he won't be able to handle? You encourage him to think about his application a little more carefully; to slow down and ask; "Is this really me?"

The other applicant is the opposite. He seems a little reluctant. And he wants to set his own terms and conditions. You point out to him that you are the employer and you are the one to set the conditions of employment! He seems to be dithering and so you urge him to make up his mind; "Do you want the job or not?!"

Jesus encountered these same types of people amongst those who wanted to be his disciples. Some appeared to be too eager. Others were too reluctant. Matthew gives us an example of each in this chapter. 

Before we look at them let's notice how this fits into the rest of this chapter. So far in chapter 8 he has described three miracles, and he will go on to describe another three. But before he does that he has this small section on discipleship. He puts this here because the miracles of Jesus call people to believe in him. But that raises the question: What does it mean to commit yourself to Jesus? What does that imply? What are the consequences of such faith?  

This was the issue facing these two would-be disciples. Jesus was about to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps his imminent departure prompted these two men to ask to be included among the close followers of Jesus.

They are described as disciples but we need to see that the word 'disciple' has a broad range of meaning. It can range from someone who was mildly interested in Jesus, to someone who was thoroughly committed to him. Keep this in mind as we consider this passage: It applies to those of you who are only just finding out about Jesus and the church, and to those of you who have known about Jesus for a long time and have been attending church for many years. 

These two men had been listening to Jesus and they were interested in his teaching and they wanted to be included in that inner circle of followers.
But from what they said Jesus could see that one was superficial and the other was hesitant. 

1. 	To the Superficial Disciple Jesus emphasised the need to count the cost

As he was preparing to leave "a teacher of the law came up to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." (vs 19). It was more unusual for a teacher of the law to want to follow Jesus. The religious leaders were often hostile to him and opposed him. But this man was dead keen. He was eager and enthusiastic and willing! "I will follow you wherever you go. I'll go with you anywhere! Lead the way; I'm right behind you!"

We don't know what prompted such enthusiasm. Maybe he had been impressed by the miracles. Maybe he admired the teaching of Jesus. Whatever it was we can deduce from his eager statement and from the Lord's cautious response that he had some false expectations. Here was a man who was caught up in the emotion of the moment. He was driven by his feelings. He was taken up with the crowds. He too wanted to be in on all this action; to be in the centre of things; to be there in the focus of attention. You can't help think of the parable of the sower and the seed that fell on the rocky ground - there was a rapid response, but it was short-lived. 

Think of times of war when the army is called up. Some people go forward with great enthusiasm because they think of the heroism, the fame, the action, the honour, the medals!
They don't think about the freezing nights and the blistering days, about the pouring rain that seeps into your tent and clothing, the mosquitos and the flies, and days of slogging through the desert or the jungle. 

Or think of a man who wants to join a rugby team. He thinks of the cheering crowds, the glory of being an all-black, the honour of scoring that winning try. He doesn't think about the hours of training, the strict diet, the time away from his home and family.
It was the same with this disciple. He was keen but he hadn't thought it through. 

In his response Jesus did not rebuke the man, nor did he invite him on-board. He didn't accept or reject his offer. Instead he gave him a reality check. He wanted him to pause and consider this matter; to think about it more carefully. "Don't rush into this now." 
He replied; "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man  has no place to lay his head." (Verse 20).

By referring to himself as the "Son of Man" he was describing his humanity and humiliation. Later on in his ministry Jesus would emphasise the themes of glory and greatness in this title, but here he focuses on suffering and trial. 

He said; "The Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus had no permanent home. He was itinerant, on-the-move, wandering. 
Worse than that, he was often rejected. He was rejected by the people of Judea, of Galilee, of Gadara, of Samaria and even by those in his home town. John writes; "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:11)

Not only that, but the road he was travelling was going to be a path of suffering that would lead to the cross.
Matthew has already directed our attention to this by quoting from Isaiah 53:4, that famous passage about the Suffering Servant. Jesus had come to die for the sins of his people. His ministry involved sacrifice - even the sacrifice of his own life. 

Those who wanted to follow Jesus had to be prepared to walk the same road. This man had a glamorous picture of what it meant to be a disciple - but it wasn't going to be like that. Following Jesus means denying yourself and taking up your cross. It involves sacrifice and service. There is a cost involved. It won't be easy. 

Many modern evangelists would have had this man signed up in a jiffy - especially a teacher of the law! Think of the publicity value! But Jesus was more cautious. He wanted him to count that cost. Sit down and figure it out. Are you up to this? Are you ready for what this involves? Are you being realistic? 

You need to think about this as well. Maybe you are thinking of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Maybe you want to follow him. Maybe you want to commit yourself to the Lord and join his church. We are excited about that, but also cautious, because you need to understand what you are doing. You need to weigh this up. You need to realise what this involves. There will be a crown of glory, but it will be gained by bearing a cross. We come to know the Lord Jesus through faith at no cost, but following him involves a great cost. So weigh it up. Consider it carefully. Count the cost.

Those of us already in the church also need to carefully consider this. Let's not bring people in under false pretences. Let's not hide the hard parts of the Christian life. Being a Christian is thrilling and satisfying and glorious, but its also difficult and trying and costly. It requires self-denial and self-sacrifice. 
Let's also remember that quantity without quality will do harm to the church in the long term. The church will grow weak if it is full of superficial disciples and easy-going volunteers and pious hypocrites. Jesus wants dedicated disciples who have counted the cost - so be sure you do that and encourage others to do the same. 

2. Jesus also wanted disciples who are committed.

Verse 21 describes a hesitant disciple; Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

There have been two interpretations of what he meant when he said he wanted to bury his father.
One is that his father had just died and he wanted to be at the funeral. It was very important for a Jew to attend the funeral of one of his parents. Think of Joseph who asked permission of Pharaoh to go to Canaan to bury his father Jacob there (Gen 50:5). This was an important matter. 
Others interpret this request to mean that his father was elderly and he wanted to wait with following Jesus until his father had died and he was free of the responsibilities of caring for his parents. 

Both interpretations are possible, and both amount to the same thing. Either way he wanted to fulfil his family responsibilities. That seems a very reasonable request.
Essentially he was asking for a delay. He didn't want to commit himself just now. He wanted to follow Jesus but not just yet.

Maybe some of you here this morning are in this position. You are interested in becoming a Christian and in following Jesus but you aren't quite ready for it yet.

Maybe you have good reasons for delaying a decision: Perhaps you don't know enough about Jesus, maybe you don't have enough information as yet, maybe you haven't had time to weigh it up properly and count the cost.

But maybe you don't have good reasons for putting it off. 
"Yes, I'll follow you Lord, but not right now.  I have a few more things to tie up.  
I want to give a bit more to the kingdom but first we have this holiday we have planned.
I would like to get more involved in the church but just now there are a few projects round the house that I want to finish.
Yes, I want to commit myself more fully to Jesus, but it will be easier to do that when I'm married; when my family is a bit older; when things are quieter at work; when my house is paid off; when...." Well, when what? When will you be ready to serve the Lord? 

Yes, you need to count the cost. But you also need to consider the cost of not making a decision. There is an eternal future at stake. You must make up your mind. You can't keep putting it off. The Bible says; "Now is the day of salvation." 
Is Jesus saying to you? "Follow me. Don't delay. Decide today. Make a commitment."
This man wanted to delay his decision. Don't you make the same mistake. 

b. In his response Jesus stresses the total commitment required of disciples. 
"Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (Verse 22)

"The dead" Jesus is referring to here are those who are spiritually dead - those who are outside the kingdom. Let them go and bury their dead. Let them do the things that custom and culture require.  
But you, those who are spiritually alive, those who are disciples, the followers of the king, you follow me. 

Here Jesus is using what we call a hyperbole - he exaggerates his statement to make the point; and the point he is making is that following him must be central. Nothing must ever be allowed to stand in the way of serving the Lord Jesus. You must commit yourself to Him. He must be first. He must have an absolute priority.
He must be more important than any family relationship or tie. Jesus emphasised this to his disciples in a speech recorded in Matthew 10:37-38....

This is an astounding claim! Anyone who said this must be an arrogant egotist with delusions of grandeur, or a raving lunatic who ought to be locked away, or he must be the person he claimed to be - the Son of God, Divine, the Messiah, the One men must follow. This is why he could say this. Following him was more important than anyone or anything else.

Remember that this is deliberately overstated. Jesus is not denying our family obligations and responsibilities. In fact, we are usually called to serve God and obey him by loving those in our family and submitting to those in authority over us. The life of discipleship has to be lived out in your marriage and family and flat and in the community of the church. "Love your neighbour as yourself", Jesus said. 

Having said that, there are times when our obligation to God comes before our obligation to our husband or wife or parents or children or friends or employer or country. Sometimes we have to draw a line in the sand and say; I must obey God rather than man! I have to let the dead bury their own dead and I must follow the Lord Jesus. It takes wisdom to know when those times come, but they will come and you must be committed to the Lord 100%. Don't let anyone or anything else get in the way of following Jesus. Don't let family or work or money or friendships compromise your commitment to Jesus. 

Some are eager to serve the Lord and to follow him but they haven't thought it through. They haven't counted the cost. If this is you then you need to weigh it up properly before you come to a decision.

But there are others who are procrastinating, putting it off, delaying a decision, holding back.
If this is you then you need to decide. You need to make a commitment. You need to follow Jesus whole-heartedly and without reservation. Jesus wants faithful followers, dedicated disciples. 

Where are you? What is your position? What sort of a disciple are you?

We aren't told how these two men responded. That is left as an open question. It's left open-ended so that you can answer this for yourself. 
Jesus says to you; "Follow me". 
What will you say in response?

Amen.