LA UBF

LK9g_2013N.docx

The Son of Man has no Place to lay His Head

Luke 9:57-62

Key Verse 58

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Introduction

This passage shows that Jesus helped three men understand what kind attitude they should have to follow him. What Jesus told them to do was very challenging. We don’t know how the three men responded to what Jesus said. However, today’s passage helps us to know how we are to follow Jesus. May God help us to overcome all the challenges that we could have in following Jesus by seeking first His kingdom.

Read verses 57 and 58. What did the man say to Jesus? (57) What can we learn about him? How did Jesus reply to him? (58) What did it reveal about the Son of Man? Had he followed Jesus, what might it have costed him?

1-1. Read verses 57 and 58.

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

1-2 What did the man say to Jesus? (57)

“I will follow you wherever you go.”

1-3 What can we learn about him?

He volunteered to follow Jesus.
We don’t know why he wanted to follow Jesus. He might have thought he would get honor and glory if he followed Jesus who has power and authority.
But he didn’t count what it might cost him. He might not be ready to endure hardship and suffering in order to follow Jesus.
Before we follow Jesus we should check if we are willing to pay any cost in following Jesus.

Luke 14:28-33 read,

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

1-4. How did Jesus reply to him? (58)

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Jesus told the man what kind of life he could live if he would follow Jesus. He told him the cost that he should pay in order to follow Jesus.
Foxes have dens and birds have nests, - even mere animals have their own homes.
But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head – Jesus didn’t even have his own home. He was literally homeless.
Although we are living in a rich environment, we are reminded of what our commitment needs to be in following Jesus.
To follow Jesus we should be ready to commit our lives to Him even when it’s possible to meet the situation of not having basic needs such as food or housing.
College students may run into these kind of poor situations which in turn become a good training field to be a disciple of Jesus.
However, Jesus' eternal destination was the kingdom of God. Those who follow Jesus are going to the kingdom of God, eternal glory in our everlasting home.
In the hope of this kingdom we endure inconveniences and hardships with joy.

1-5, What did it reveal about the Son of Man?

Jesus lived a poor life to carry out his mission which was to save sinners. He left all the glory in heaven and became poor to make us rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 reads,

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

1-6, Had he followed Jesus, what might it have costed him?

The man might have suffered together with Jesus like Jesus’ disciples who left everything to follow Jesus, but he would be greatly rewarded by God.

2. Read verses 59 and 60. What did Jesus say to this man? (59a) What did the man request? (59b) How did Jesus reply? (60) Why do you think Jesus told him to go and proclaim the kingdom of God instead of burying his father?

2-1. Read verses 59 and 60.

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

2-2, What did Jesus say to this man? (59a)

He said to another man, “Follow me”

Jesus invited the man first to follow him. It was great honor and blessing to be called by Jesus. He got a great chance to live a wonderful life.
In fact all of us were invited to follow Jesus to be his disciples.

2-3. What did the man request? (59b)

“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

To the Jews, burying their dead parents was considered the most important duty for the (adult) children.

For this man’s case, it doesn’t necessarily mean that his father just died at that moment.
He might be saying that he would follow Jesus after burying his old father when his father would die.
But even if his father died at that time, Jesus would say the same word.
The man might think that taking care of his father and burying him was his number one priority.
Taking care of parents and burying them when they die is basic moral duty.
However spiritually dead people could bury physically dead people.
Jesus also said, "...but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Those who are alive in Christ must proclaim the kingdom of God at every opportunity. This alone gives life to a dying world.
Therefore nothing is more important than the holy and glorious duty of serving God’s eternal will.

2-4.How did Jesus reply? (60)

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

The dead bury their own dead - the dead refers to those don’t have life from Jesus and the hope of Kingdom of God.
But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. – Jesus wanted him to focus on serving God’s work which is helping people to have both eternal life and the hope of kingdom of God.
We should not allow family and social duties to interfere with our duty for Christ.
Funerals, marriages and visiting are not bad. But they should not keep servants of God from doing his duty.
We could have the situation in which we have to make very painful decision between God’s will and other seemingly important duties in this world.

1 Kings 19:19-21 read,

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Matthew 4:18-22 read,

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

2-5. Why do you think Jesus told him to go and proclaim the kingdom of God instead of burying his father?

Proclaiming the kingdom of God is the most important priority. Also it is the most urgent thing that should be done.

We, co-heirs of glory and children of the King of kings, should focus on God’s Work.
As God’s priests in the world we should pray for the kingdom of God.
To the believers, the biggest duty is to follow Jesus and to proclaim the kingdom of God

3. Read verses 61 and 62. What did this man want to do before he would follow Jesus (61)? How did Jesus reply (62)? What does it mean to look back while you put a hand to the plow? Why is it not fit for service in the kingdom of God? What can you learn personally from Jesus who helped three different disciple candidates?

3-1. Read verses 61 and 62.

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

3-2. What did this man want to do before he would follow Jesus (61)?

“I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

3-3. How did Jesus reply (62)?

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

3-4.What does it mean to look back while you put a hand to the plow?

When Jesus is speaking about looking back while plowing it means looking back with fondness towards our old life.
When a farmer plowed behind an ox, he needed to keep a nice straight path to plant the seed in a orderly rows.
If he looked behind, the plow would go all over.
Also ‘look back while you put a hand to the plow’, which means ‘divided heart and mind”
For instance, Lot’s wife had a divided mind and became a pillar of salt.
Sometimes we are serving God by routine, but our heart is somewhere else: with our school, job, children, secret ambition or agenda.
We need to learn from Jesus who was resolute in his mission without looking back.
We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and make a decision of faith to serve students with an attitude of commitment and resolve like Jesus. Then we can be great servants of God for his kingdom.

3-5.Why is it not fit for service in the kingdom of God?

It is impossible to serve Christ with divided heart. If we are looking back to anything in this world, we are not fit to be disciples.
We must be prepared in case of necessity to turn our backs even on those who have raised us up.
It sounds inhumane to our parents and family members.
However as the time passes by, they would be blessed with a clear challenge of faith and eventually become precious prayer coworkers in Jesus.
So often times it turned out to be double blessing for us and our family members.

3-6. What can you learn personally from Jesus who helped three different disciple candidates?

These teach us that there is a cost to following Jesus and that we must decide to pay this cost, giving a clear priority to the kingdom of God.
Serving the kingdom of God is the greatest privilege that God can give a person.
This privilege should be received with a deep sense of gratitude and a clear decision of commitment.
Once this decision is made, there should be no turning back; no longing for the former things, or regrets about leaving one's past life.
Sometimes temptation can come, even to those who have served God for a long time. We can think: "What if I had focused on my career instead of devoting so much time to God's ministry?"
Or "What if I had lived a family-centered life instead of a mission-oriented life?" This kind of speculation makes us weak and useless.
We must believe Jesus' final victory and put our hand to the plow and keep on going. Those who persevere to the end, overcoming temptations, are truly great and glorious in the sight of God.
It may remind us of recent daily bread on Romans 8:17-18,

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

In conclusion

In order to follow Jesus, we need to be ready to pay the necessary cost. We should put priority on following Jesus above any other thing. We have to follow Jesus with an undivided heart. People want to follow Jesus, but only those who are willing to pay the cost and are ready to give up everything to follow him can do so to the end.

One word: Follow me!