Missional Jesus summons others to attach themselves to himself and doesn’t care what ties they have to break in order to be attached to him and the mission of God he has come to preach and enact.
Notice our text today: Luke 9:57-62.
1. It is far too easy to make this a “discipleship” (only) text. That is, something about ethics and commitment to follow Jesus subsequent to salvation. Mistake. This is all one and the same.
2. Missional Jesus knows the cost to the body (9:58).
3. Missional Jesus knows the cost to the family life when it comes to sacred customs (9:59-60).
4. Missional Jesus knows the cost to the family life when it comes to simple social courtesies (9:61-62).
Missional Jesus wants all of his followers, he wants them to make that decision now, and he wants all of them because he knows the kingdom of God is worth it.
To quote Mark Galli, Missional Jesus is more mean and wild than meek and mild.
Luke 9:57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good–by to my family.”
Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”