Luke 14:25-35 Counting Up The Cost

Luke 14:25-35 Counting Up The Cost

Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, "If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if salt itself loses its taste, with what can its flavor be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." At that time some Pharisees came to him and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. (But) I tell you, you will not see me until (the time comes when) you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

This scripture is confusing to me. First Jesus seems to be saying anyone who wants to follow him must do so wholeheartedly. He gives the example of turning ones back on one’s parents, spouse, children. My whole being cries out against this. I would find it difficult to turn away from those I hold most dear, who depend upon me, and on whom I rely. It seems needlessly harsh, a lonely solitary undertaking, and a costly one. Following this are several examples of setting out to complete a task - a man building a tower and a king going off to war. Jesus advises that before committing yourself, you will do well to count up the cost, calculating risks in a clear- eyed practical manner very much in contrast to the painful, wrenching, leave-taking at the beginning of this passage. Perhaps Jesus is saying we must do both: realizing in a clear-eyed way that following Christ may in fact be very costly and sometimes painful. If we choose Christ, choose to be his salt to the earth, it should be a thoughtful, considered choosing, since it may in fact cost us dearly. Jesus foreshadows leaving his own loved ones behind. I think he is already grieving their loss. His grief leaves little softness about him, few words of comfort for those who would follow him as he faces his final days on earth.