Luke 9:57-62

content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md

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-title = "Luke 9:37–45"
-date = "2022-12-02"
-+++
-
-### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk9.37-45)
-
-While Jesus and His inner circle were up on the mountain, the rest of the
-disciples were staying in the town at it's base. When they return, they find a
-crowd waiting for them. From the crowd, a distraught father begs Jesus to help
-his son because the disciples weren't able to cast out the spirit that afflicts
-him.
-
-In response, Jesus expresses some frustration, which is a really weird thing to
-think about. It's not an emotion that feels…_comfortable_…to
-assign to the Sovereign Lord of all. But it is there in the text, and we have
-to deal with it as it is, and not as we'd like it or expect it to be. The
-question appears to be directed more at the crowd, or perhaps at the disciples,
-than at the father. All of these people have heard Jesus's teachings, but do
-not believe God's power is sufficient or necessary for their lives. Or
-something.
-
-Jesus tells them to bring the man's son to Him so that he can be healed. The
-boy has one last fit along the way, but Jesus casts out the spirit and all the
-people are "astonished". (_v. 43_) Were they astonished because they didn't
-really believe that the boy could be healed? That he was healed because all
-Jesus did was rebuke the demon causing the problems? What were they expecting?
-If this was their attitude, then Jesus's frustration is a bit more
-understandable.
-
-Immediately after this, Jesus plainly tells His disciples that He is going to
-be arrested, at the very least. But they don't understand what He means because
-God hides it from them until the proper time. Jesus needed no interference from
-well-meaning friends so that the plan of redemption would be completed as it
-should.
-
-* * *
-
-Let us always take Your word for what it is and not try to twist it into
-something it does not say.

content/bible_journal/luke_9:57-62.md

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+title = "Luke 9:57–62"
+date = "2022-12-04"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk9.57-62)
+
+While we have seen thath the disciples were imperfect people, these verses show
+us that not just anyone will be willing to pay the true cost of following
+Jesus. The first man sounds like he'll be loyal, but Jesus says that the road
+will not be full of material comforts, or even that there will be deprivation
+because of following Him. The second man asks to fulfill a familial
+responsibility, but Jesus says it's not as important as proclaiming the kingdom
+of God, which would be extremely shocking in that culture. The third only asks
+to go say farewell to his family, but Jesus…does not actually say that
+he can't. What He does say is that he can't be concerned and worried for those
+he left behind when there is important work in front of him.
+
+The common thread in these three situations is that God wants complete devotion
+from us. We can't be partially concerned with His will and His kingdom and
+partially concerned with ourselves. We can't even be concerned for our own
+family except as that concern is subordinate to advancing God's kingdom. (And
+we should definitely be trying to build God's kingdom within our own families.
+God promises to take care of our needs, both material and spiritual, temporal
+and eternal. This frees us up to do the work that He has prepared for us to do.
+
+* * *
+
+Give us eternal perspectives, O Lord, so that our priorities line up with
+Yours.