Lent Day Thirty Two
“Luke 14:28–35 ”
Luke 14:28–35 The Passion Translation
27 And anyone who comes to me must be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he cannot be considered to be my disciple.
28 So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it?
29 Otherwise he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish. The neighbors will ridicule him, saying,
30 ‘Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!’
31 “Have you ever heard of a commander who goes out to war without first sitting down with strategic planning to determine the strength of his army to win the war against a stronger opponent?
32 If he knows he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the war, the wise commander will send out delegates to ask for the terms of peace.
33 Likewise, unless you surrender all to me, giving up all you possess, you cannot be one of my disciples.
34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if salt were to lose its flavor, how could it ever be restored?
35 It will never be useful again, not even fit for the soil or the manure pile! If you have ears opened by the Spirit, then hear the meaning of what I have said and apply it to yourselves.”
Jesus was gathering and teaching many followers, but here seems to break the flow intentionally to remind them of the huge cost of being his disciples. This is something we don’t tend to like thinking about – and isn’t usually at the forefront of our minds at Easter. And yet it is a vital part of our journey with him.
Jesus knew a time was coming when he would be taken from his followers and, even after he had defeated death, they would face persecution. Other versions of this passage talk of ‘carrying’ the cross. Jesus’ hearers would have been very familiar with this concept because those who were sentenced to death by crucifixion had to carry their own crosses – perhaps as a sign of submission to the Roman Empire and presumably as a warning to onlookers. In the Passion Translation, it talks of ‘sharing’ Jesus’ cross. Simon of Cyrene was plucked from the crowd to carry the cross as Jesus could no longer physically do so (Luke 23:26) – what a stark image of sharing in Jesus’ suffering, in just a small way. Our culture today encourages us to do all we can to avoid suffering. This seems to have seeped into the Church too: we can view suffering as something we shouldn’t experience, and yet in this passage Jesus says unless we do we aren’t his disciples! He also said in John 16:33: “you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”
Jesus used visual language to teach people; here he talks about a builder and a commander. Jesus was keen for people to think their devotion to him through carefully, and understand the need to surrender everything to him in order to receive his peace. When we are encouraging others to come to faith themselves, what message are we giving? Are we wary of sharing the true cost? Jesus said unless we give up everything we cannot truly be his disciples. Sobering stuff. As are his thoughts on salt: while salt preserves and brings out the flavour, if it becomes wet it is no longer effective. Too often we can blend into the world – Jesus was saying we are no longer fulfilling our purpose when that happens. Ouch!
I invite you to think afresh about two things: whether you are fully surrendered to Christ in every area of your life, and whether you have become too like the culture around you and lost your ‘saltiness’. Pray through your thoughts, and ask Jesus for his help to live fully for him today.
Claire Musters
Claire Musters is a writer, speaker and editor, and mum to two gorgeous children. Claire married her husband at a very young age – he was a record producer for 18 years and is now pastor of their church. Claire heads up the worship ministry and women's ministry in their church.
Claire's passion is to see people reach their full potential in God and her writing and speaking often focuses on marriage, parenting, worship, discipleship, issues facing women today etc. She often uses real-life examples - many from her own life.
Her book Taking Off the Mask tells her own story but also explores why, when church is supposed to be a place of acceptance and freedom, so many of us hide behind carefully constructed masks. She has written many other books, study guides, daily Bible notes and online and magazine articles.