We live in a rapidly changing society that has determined to reject the invitation to repent and inherit the kingdom of God. The issue before us is how do we continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in a hostile environment?
First, we must be determined to be obedient to the call to follow Jesus. Jesus was determined to be obedient to the will of the Father – “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 ESV). Isaiah prophesied of the divine servant’s disposition: “But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near” (Isaiah 50:7 ESV). Nothing could turn Jesus from his destiny – to be raised up on the cross, to be raised from the dead, and to be raised to sit at the right hand of the father.
It is this determination, this kind of commitment to which disciples of Christ are called. Luke tells us of three potential disciples who heard the call to discipleship, but could not commit because they refused to let go of previous commitments. A common response is “I will follow, but let me first…” That’s the point of contention – what is first? what has priority in our lives? Jesus’ call to discipleship has no place for other commitments. This is conditional discipleship in which we follow Jesus as long as it is convenient to our other priorities. Jesus rejects our conditional response: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 ESV).
Why is Jesus so demanding? Because the mission of God is fraught with difficulties. As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, he encountered resistance in Samaria. We know that Jesus would encounter even greater resistance in Jerusalem. His disciples were enraged at this rejection and asked,
“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54 ESV).
I find it presumptuous that those who could not exorcise a demon believed they had authority to call down fire from heaven (cf. Luke 9:40). But nonetheless, James and John were filled with passion and ready to condemn the Samaritan village to eternal destruction. All too often, preachers are filled with presumption. We presume an authority we do not have, we presume a judgment we should not make. Jesus rebuked their presumption: “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of…” (Luke 9:55). In fact, sometimes it is easy for us to forget the nature of our call to follow Jesus. So he reminds us by saying
…the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56).
In a world that seems intent on rejecting the message of Jesus Christ, we must resist the temptation of condemnation and remain determined to be faithful to the call to discipleship. We are to be ministers of reconciliation, messengers of grace, and ambassadors of divine love. If we are to call down fire from heaven, let it be the fire of the Holy Spirit – the flame of God’s love – which has been poured out within our hearts (Romans 5:5). Let’s temper our passion with compassion.
