Luke 9:51-62, MSG Bible
51-54 When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?” 55-56 Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!” And they traveled on to another village. 57 On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said. 58 Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” 59 He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.” 60 Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” 61 Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.” 62 Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”
Introduction
Monty Roberts’ father as a horse trainer was moving from stable to stable, from ranch to ranch, training horses. Thus, the Monty‘s school career was constantly interrupted. One day, when he was a senior, teacher asked him to write about what he wanted to be when he grew up. He did not hesitate a minute and wrote seven-page paper about his aim to be an owner of a horse ranch, he wrote many details and drew a location of buildings and stables and even a detailed house plan.
Two days later he received his paper back with letter „F“ on the front page. After class he came to teacher and asked: „Why did I receive an F?“. The teacher responded: „This dreams is so unrealistic for a boy like you, who has no money, no resources and who comes from itinerant family. There is no possibility that you will reach your great goals one day.“ Then the teacher offered to rewrite the paper with more realistic attitude.
The boy went home and asked his father, how he should act. The father answered: „This decision is very important for you. So you have to make up your own mind on this“.
After several days the boy brought the same paper to his teacher. No changes were made. He said: „Keep the F and I will keep my dream“.
Now Monty Roberts owns 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of 200-acre horse ranch and he still has that school paper, which now is framed over the fireplace.[1]
Sir Thomas Buxton, remarked, “The longer I live, the more I am certain that the great difference between the great and the insignificant, is energy—invincible determination—a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory.”[2] Lewis temple the fulfillment of your purpose must outweigh critique! I’m going to say that again, “The fulfillment of your purpose must outweigh critique.” Selah
Move 1
Jesus demonstrates that one’s inner circle, one’s priorities, and one’s determination must be linked to one’s commitment to fulfilling the call of God in your life. Jesus affirms that “when the demand of God presses upon us, it must take priority over all that belongs to good sense, good citizenship, and good family relationships and customs. In other words, if we are to obey God, the kingdom of God, God’s method of doing things has to have first priority in our life. No other loyalty can surpass that of our loyalty to God and his kingdom. Lord, have mercy!
He has set his sights on his destiny; Jesus is headed to Jerusalem and Jesus will not be deterred by his inner circle, other people’s priorities, nor the customs and traditions of family. He is determined to arrive at this destination on time and therefore, he realigns all his concentration, determination and focus toward Jerusalem.
The text teaches us that along the way to your destiny in Christ, rejection, misunderstanding, and other people’s priorities will try to sidetrack you, but you must stay focused. First, in Luke 9:51-56 we find these words, “ When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?” Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!” And they traveled on to another village.”
First, rejection by those who have their own selfish agenda appears. The Samaritans refuse to host Jesus because Jesus is not going to stay in Samaria. He’s just passing through on his way to Jerusalem. They, the Samaritans do not wish to go to all that trouble to welcome Jesus into the city knowing he’s not going to be there any length of time. They feel that Jesus is disrespecting them by refusing to spend time with them and meeting their needs. Hospitality was a big deal in Jesus’ day and remains so up to the present time.
His inner circle is alarmed at their rejection and volunteer to use their faith, their authority to punish the Samaritans. After all, when Elijah was taken up, Elisha saw fire come from heaven in the form of a chariot of fire pulled by fire-breathing horses. Inimical to that incident since they know Jesus will be departing soon, since they know his death is imminent and they will be left behind they want to show the Samaritans that they too have power in the kingdom. But Jesus harshly rebukes them for having that kind of spirit and denies them the right to use God’s power for selfish ends. In other words, this is not the time for them to show off their power. They have already argued in Luke 9:46 about who would be greatest among them. They simply misunderstand His purpose and His ministry even at this late stage of his ministry. Lord, have mercy!
Secondly, in Luke 9:57-61, we see other people’s misunderstanding of what it takes to follow Jesus get in the way of following the plan of God when God calls. Here the text again, “On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said. 58 Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Look at the seriousness of with which Jesus handles each request for delay in doing what God demands. This person is full of grit and determination but Jesus confronts him about the harshness of the journey. Jesus challenges him to make sure he’s ready because following Jesus is no easy task. He was excited, but Jesus was realistic and cautious about his motives and his commitment. How many of us have declared we’re going to fulfill some purpose, only to fall by the wayside because the journey got hard? Let me ask you, what is the source of your motivation? Is it internal or external? Do you need outside motivation or are you self-motivated, driven by passion for the thing God has called you to do? That is the question you must answer because beloved, the road to success is paved with pitfalls, traps, rejections, and downright hatred. Are you willing to endure until you do that for which God has called you?
Third and finally, family traditions and customs try to take the place of God’s destiny in your life. In the text Jesus sees one with potential and interviews him for the job of following him to Jerusalem. Jesus says to Him , “You come follow men.” And before the words can drop from his lips, excuses start rolling out. This young man places his family traditions above the call of God. In Luke 9:59, the young man says, Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.” For Jesus this is unacceptable. Nothing can take the place of God’s call, not even family traditions and customs. Jesus adamantly replied to this young man, “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” In other words, make God’s call your priority, not the issues of this life. Hallelujah!
Right after that another young man comes up ready but not ready to follow Jesus. In Luke 9:61-62, the conversation goes like this, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.” 62 Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” Can you sense the frustration of Jesus with these young men making excuses for not answering the call of God. Even now Jesus is reminding them that procrastination is the killer of destiny. Procrastination will put you behind; stay focused Jesus admonishes them. Don’t let anything prevent you from fulfilling the will of God for your life. Beloved, whatever you do, don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today! Do what God has called you to do and begin Now. Jesus is calling for some Now Disciples.
If you’re going to fulfill the plan of God for your life, you too must walk the rode of misunderstanding and rejection. Listen, “In Jewish tradition this obligation, the obligation to bury one’s father was so sacred as to override any other obligations of the Old Testament Law.”[3] But not to Jesus. Here again, man’s adherence to customs and traditions posed a problem for those desiring to follow Jesus. What about in your life? Is it family reunion or holy communion? Is it being faithful at your post or participating in some family ritual and abandoning your post? What will it take for you to put God on hold so you can fulfill some family tradition or desire? Lord, have mercy!
Move 2 (Conclusion)
Jesus had one mission; stated in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Once found, the cost of redemption, the cost of their salvation would be death on cross. Jesus would have to shed his blood in Jerusalem. Jesus would have to give his life a ransom for our sins and Jesus would not be delayed, deterred, or detracted. Neither rejection nor misunderstanding. Neither excuses nor human traditions would keep him from his destiny. Jesus set his face like flint and headed toward Jerusalem and it is on this journey to Jerusalem that attempts were made to hold him up from fulfilling his purpose.
Satan’s strategy is often delay not denial. If Satan can get you to procrastinate perhaps you won’t fulfill your calling. Jesus was having none of that; he would not allow rejection, misunderstanding or other people’s priorities to prevent him from fulfilling the will of God for his life. And what about you? On this Sunday Morning, I want you to vow that you will fulfill the will of God for your life and you will begin Now to do so. No more excuses; it’s time to make real the promises of God for your life. Beloved, nothing should be more important to you than reaching your destiny in God. Can I get a witness, here?
Jesus stands as a light in darkness. He stands as the ultimate example of one who once he made a decision would let nothing keep him from following his mind. Hebrews 10:23, 35-36 encourages us by saying, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Jesus urges us to stay focused; Jesus urges us to run our race. Sing with the saints of old, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”
Therefore, run saints of God. Grab hold of the thing that has gotten hold of you and run. Don’t procrastinate, run. Don’t get overwhelmed by life’s demands, run. Don’t let family traditions stop you, run. Don’t let the hardness of the journey stop you run. Run, when folks love you, run. Run, when they reject you, run. Run, when they want you to wait, run. Run toward the calling of God for you your life. And when you do, God will smile on you. God will be with you. God will sustain you.
[1] I will tell you a story of my friend Monty Roberts. (2016) Retrieved from http://www.inspirationalstories.eu/stories/success-stories/inspirational-stories-about-determination/
[2] Deermination Quote. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.values.com/determination
[3] Nolland, J. (1993). Word biblical commentary: Luke 9:21-18:34. Hubbard, D., Barker, G. Editors. P.544. Dallas, TX: Word Books.
BARRIER BREAKING ENTERPRISES 