I am writing this particular blog entry two days before it will be put online. As I opened my computer this morning, I saw a notice that today is called “Halfway Day”, that it marks the day when we are halfway through the year. It also mentioned that today some people like to only put in 50% effort in what they do, only half an effort. Really? Only half an effort? How could people feel good or satisfied with themselves if they only put in half an effort in what they did? In our Scripture for today we read about how committed, how much effort, the Lord wants us to put in to be a follower, a disciple of His. Would a halfway person with half an effort qualify? Let’s take a look.
As our Scripture opens, Jesus and His disciples had been in Galilee, which is in northern Israel. He was on His way to Jerusalem, which was in Judah, southern Israel (vs. 51). This wasn’t a pleasure trip. Jesus was headed for the cross, where He would be the sacrifice for our sins. Though this was something that was awful for anyone to contemplate, and He could have turned away at any time, Jesus “steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” As Isaiah prophesied centuries earlier, Jesus set His face “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7). He was giving all, not a halfway effort.
This journey would take them through the territory of the Samaritans, which was between Galilee and Judah. The Jewish people and the Samaritans despised each other, and usually Jews traveling to Jerusalem would go miles out of their way to avoid Samaria, but not Jesus. However, this day the Samaritans made it plain they did not want Jews to stay in town (vs. 52-53). So what did the brothers James and John say? They asked Jesus if they could bring hell-fire down on the village! (vs. 54). They had been with Jesus for almost three years, and they still did not understand His message. Jesus did not want to destroy them (vs. 55-56) . His mission is not judgment (yet), but salvation. He did not come to condemn but to save (John 3:17). The best way to defend Jesus is to live like Him.
The second half of our Scripture passage gives the account of three individuals who expressed an interest in following Jesus, along with what was holding them back from a full commitment. The first of the three came to Jesus, and excitedly told Him that he wanted to follow Him (vs. 57-58). Jesus reminded the young man that he needed to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33). During His ministry, Jesus did not have His own home or bed, had few clothes or belongings, and either slept in friends’ homes or outdoors. Following Jesus means denying our selfish goals in life (Matthew 16:24). It means embracing discomfort and sacrifice. There is no promise of earthly security, only eternal reward.
The second person who claimed he wanted to follow Jesus, said that he first wanted to go bury his father. Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead, and he should preach the Gospel (vs. 59-60). This young man wasn’t simply asking to bury his father. If his father had just died, why was he there in the crowd to begin with? In that day, in that culture and climate, burial was usually done quite quickly. He was focusing on “dead” worldly desires. This is not a dismissal of family duty, but a call to prioritize the eternal over the temporal. Spiritually “dead” people can handle earthly matters. The spiritually alive must proclaim life. We can’t pursue worldly goals and still follow Jesus (I John 2:15-17).
The third want-to-be disciple told Jesus he first wanted to go back and tell his family good-bye (vs. 61-62). This man was hesitant. Jesus lets us know that half-hearted, lukewarm faith is unacceptable (Revelation 3:14-16). Discipleship demands undivided loyalty. Looking back implies divided affections. We see this in the example of Lot’s wife who looked longingly back at Sodom, and the early Christian Demas (II Timothy 4:10). We need to count the cost, give up worldly goals, and come wholeheartedly.
These three must have thought it was Halfway Day, as they were only giving half an effort. Jesus gave fully, 100%. After the resurrection, eleven of the twelve disciples gave all of their effort, too. What about you? Are you willing to commit to giving Jesus 100% of your effort, or do you have more in common with the three men in today’s Scripture, who only wanted to give partial effort? Faithfulness to God often invites rejection, even from those close to us. The call to proclaim the Gospel outweighs all earthly concerns. True followers must count the cost and forsake all for Jesus Christ.
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