Hard Words

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. [Luke 14.25-27] 

If you think about it, Jesus had nothing to gain, but followers to lose, when He turned and made the hard statement above to them. Was He just trying to make people leave? Why not "tone it down" just a bit?

Mindlessly following Jesus is the most dangerous venture in the world. Jesus knew full well that, among those who tagged along with Him, there were very few who were truly set free. Even though they were "there," they had no comprehension of what following Jesus really meant. They were just "the crowd." They were lulled into their own deceptive reasoning that, as long as they were in the crowd, they would be fine... They were, in fact, those Jesus spoke of elsewhere:

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matthew 7.21-23]

Jesus was nothing if He was not a line-in-the-sand-draw-er. Even in His most comforting words, Jesus still maintained a level of potency that the life of a believer is not all ease:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” [Matthew 11.28-30] 

Even an easy yoke is still a yoke. It is still a burden. It is still work. It involves difficulty.

Why did Jesus "go for the juggler vein" in declaring "family" would need to comparatively be hated in order to follow Him? Why not just acquaintances or friends? Jesus knew full well that "family" creates the most emotionally-charged circumstances in most people's lives. It carries passionate love and often "difficulties" beyond belief by outsiders. For this reason, many nominal followers of Christ allow family to dictate their convictions more than God and His Word (Jesus). In other words, they choose family over God. And, in that moment, "family" has become an idol...

Idols render the idol worshiper "blind" and "deaf." This was pointed out in the Psalms, by the prophet Isaiah, and by Jesus Himself.

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have  mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.9-10] 

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

So again, idols render the idol worshiper "blind" and "deaf" - even if they are "family." To choose family over God is indeed idolatry. Jesus passionately pointed out that those who cannot see and those who cannot hear cannot turn to Him. It is simply not possible. And, if a person cannot turn to Jesus, Who is the exclusive Way, Truth and Life, they cannot be saved.

Suddenly, Jesus' line-in-the-sand approach to evangelism makes eternal sense!

Father, may our eyes and ears be open because we decidedly and purposefully follow Jesus carrying our own cross refusing to allow anything, including family, to become an idol to us. So be it.