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Conversations are inevitably coloured by context. So first in Luke 9:
v51 Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem: Jesus knew what He had to do, God's call on His life was clear, nothing was going to dissuade or distract Him from that path. It is in this context that the three incidents must be seen and understood.
V 57 - 58: The desire to follow Jesus is fine, but the Lord tells this person clearly that it would not be a life of comfort or certainty of abode - must be free to move as God guides. Count the cost! The Christian life is not a life of ease - there are real costs to following Christ. The first disciples left everything to follow Jesus - Jesus' call to this man is to do the same.
V59 - 60: The man received Jesus' call to follow, but wasn't ready. If the man's father was already dead, he would have been caught up already in the business of funeral arrangements - so the man is effectively saying that he would be willing to follow after his father had died - some unspecified time later. Jesus' reply is clear: if you are spiritually alive then your concern should be proclaiming the kingdom of God - i.e. active discipleship now not later! Don't miss the moment of God's call.
Alternatively: if the person's father had just died, then Jesus' reply in effect is one of urgency. Rather than getting caught up in the whole bereavement process - let those who have not yet heard God's call get on with the funeral, but recognise that the call of God is more urgent, that God has prior call on one's life! Don't miss the moment of God's call. Being a disciple of Christ is about living to a different set of values and priorities. - Kingdom values and Kingdom priorities.
V61 - 62: Another was willing to follow Jesus, but wanted to say goodbye to family first. Jesus' reply is, I think, a warning - that it is costly to leave family, therefore, in returning to say goodbye, the person might be tempted to look back - to hang on to the past. They should be ready to look forwards and keep going, even though it is costly. It is impossible to plough a straight furrow looking back!
Now we look at Galatians 5: 13 - 25
Jesus makes a real difference to life! The Holy Spirit's life in the believer leads to real change and transformation of life and character.
Is it for real? Does it work? Does knowing Jesus make a real difference? The kind of questions people are asking - here and now kind of questions, that call the church and individual Christians to here and now kind of answers! To being real about their faith, about being genuine, authentic, followers of Jesus Christ, and facing the real changes, challenges and costs of Christian discipleship in the 21st century.
One of the ongoing 'costs' of seeking to be a disciple, a learning follower, is that we are caught up in the daily challenge of being led by the Holy Spirit, whose intention is to guide and enable us to live by the values and standards of God's kingdom, rather than those of ourselves and/or the world around us.
The Holy Spirit living in a person's life does make a very real difference v 22ff. The evidence of the Spirit's presence is there for all to see! And if you don't see the evidence, then there must be a question mark about whether the Spirit is present or not. It is not necessarily about instantaneous transformation, but the gradual transformation over time - the recreation of God's likeness in us as people whatever are age or background.
Richard Zair
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