Great crowds of people followed the Lord Jesus when He and the disciples passed through the villages on the way to Jerusalem. All must have known of the miracles Jesus had done and of His wisdom, so wished to see and hear this great Teacher.
You know that when there is a special event, people gather crowding one upon another, and so it was then. Men think of that as an honor, but Jesus knew many were not in earnest to know Him but were curious to see some wonder. He knew He was soon to be rejected as their King and that few believed Him to be God’s Son.
He knew all who believed in Him would also be despised and often harmed, so it would not be easy for them to say they were His followers or to tell people of Him.
That was the reason He told the people that if they wished to be true followers, they must think more of Him than of all others. He deserves that all should give Him their love above even their family, for all first belong to Him.
You may think it strange the Lord used the word “hate” about their families, because He had before said to “love” even an enemy, Matthew 5:4343Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. (Matthew 5:43). But it seems to mean they might have to be against their friends or relatives who did not believe in Jesus, and give up all to be true to Him.
Counting the Cost
Jesus said all who followed His ways should be like a man who wants to build a tower, so he first sits down and counts how much it would cost. If he started to build and did not have money to finish, others would laugh at him.
People who believe God are called His building, in Ephesians 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22), and all who tell others of Christ help build that building. It may cost them the favor of friends or loved ones.
Jesus also asked those about Him if a king were going to fight against a stronger king’s army, would he not first consider if it were possible to win? There is a very strong king, Satan, for Christians to fight, but they can remember that God is with His weak people, and so they are able to win. He will also give the strength to build for Christ.
The Lord Jesus wanted those who started to follow His teachings to be in earnest and to know it would not be easy. There were many disciples afterward who gave up their homes and comforts to tell people of Christ as Saviour.
It is still not easy to be a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, but this chapter shows how well He knew this. Those who obey His words, “Follow thou Me,” shall receive a great reward. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:2727My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)).
He spoke of salt losing its savor, or taste, and then it is useless; so are we useless as followers, if we lose our desire and earnestness to be true to Himself.
Further Meditation
1. What might be the cost of following Christ?
2. Our God is no man’s debtor. What did the disciples enjoy that no one else in their day did? What did they lose out on that others received?
3. If you’ve been meditating on the subject of discipleship, you might find Discipleship — Its Terms, Tests and Rewards: Seven Things That Characterize a Disciple Indeed by B. Anstey to be an easy way to continue digging into the subject.