As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:51-62
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." Jesus is headed home. His deadline is approaching.
The first group opposes Jesus, because they are Samaritans and he's going to the "wrong" holy mountain.
The second man claims to be willing to follow Jesus, but he hasn't really considered the cost. He is like the plan that springs up quickly but dies back due to shallow roots.
The third man claims to be willing to follow Jesus, but he says he will do it later. Like those who say they will do what God wants after they retire.
The fourth man claims to be willing to follow but still has a lingering attachment that prevents his whole hearted commitment.
The last phrase from Jesus summarizes this dilemma: No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. We all have our ideas of what our service should look like and it usually involves looking back at what we are giving up. There are things that I am accustomed to that I now fight to maintain. Am I willing to serve God and give those up or am I always going to be looking back. God willing, I will look to where Jesus is going, not where I am coming from.
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