The Way to Follow Jesus According to the Gospel of LukeSample

Day 8 - Luke 9

Cost of Discipleship

Jesus continues to teach, preach, heal and deliver people from demons and perform supernatural miracles. It is no wonder crowds formed all around Him wherever he went.

The disciples got to experience first-hand, the power of God's Spirit flowing through Jesus. When Jesus sent them out two by two to the surrounding villages nearby, they believed that with the authority He gave them they could preach, heal and deliver and they did that.

As word got out, it’s no wonder Herod and Israel’s leaders were confused, jealous and afraid. But the greater the resistance, the more public were the displays of miracles like the feeding of the five thousand.

For those surrounding Jesus it seemed as though he truly was the Messiah, who would bring about a new kingdom rule. But Jesus instead, predicts His death at the hands of the religious rulers. Then reminds them that if anyone wants to be His follower, they must but be willing to carry their own cross.

Jesus validated Himself as God’s son by letting Peter, James and John witness a physical transformation on a mountaintop with Moses and Elijah. And lest they keep their heads in the clouds, awaiting them at the foot of the mountain was a desperate dad begging for His son’s demonic deliverance.

The disciples had to battle their misconceptions of who Jesus was, the real meaning of His messiahship and how they fit in. So, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that there is a cost for anyone wanting to be His follower. When things go right it seems easy to follow Jesus. But He doesn't lure us in with promises of an easy, care-free life when it comes to doing His work.

When He starts talking about suffering and giving up your life, do you have second thoughts? There's a price to pay when you follow Jesus.

Are you willing to do that?