18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:18-22 (NLT)

Teaching, Healing, Challenge

Jesus has taught the Sermon on Christian living (Sermon on the Mount). He’s healed a leper, then a centurion’s servant, Peter’s mom and a multitude of sick folk. He’s gotten the attention of His followers and those who are choosing to follow Him as a teacher (disciples). It’s now time to challenge their commitment and understanding of being a disciple.

Avoid the crowds

It seems like Jesus is avoiding the crowds. He’s been in the spotlight for a time now with His teaching and healing – “large crowds” (Matt 8:1). “Jesus increased in popularity, yet He did not follow the crowds or even seek to make them bigger.” (enduringword.com) Certainly He needed a break.

Cost of discipleship – suffering

Surprisingly, a Jewish religious leader is one of the “large crowd” who’s been following Him. He’s interested in His teaching and likely amazed by His mirazz. It seems his excitement overcomes him and he makes a rashpledge to follow Jesus anywhere he goes. Jesus challenges his thinking and motive. Following Him requires suffering. It’s not comfortable – specifically physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. 

Cost of discipleship – priority

The other disciple wants to follow but has to “bury his father”. “Actually, this man did not ask for permission to dig a grave for his deceased father. He wanted to remain in his father’s house and care for him until the father died.” (enduringword.com) So Jesus’ challenge was to make following Him the priority in life. Don’t delay to a convenient time or place.

“24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

RЯeflection

• Are we willing to count the cost of being a disciple? Along with it comes suffering. But know that, “our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

• Many Christians are not disciples. When pressed into service to the Lord, they offer excuses like the second example. Take time to consider this deeply. Are you a disciple, a follower of Christ?