Luke 9:51-62 - Seeking Willing Servants

Luke 9:51-62 - Seeking Willing Servants

Big Idea: Christ calls us to a life fully lived and submitted to Him.

Introduction

Image: Starting Pilot Training

While reviewing slides from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, I encountered an interesting statistic. Roughly 70-80% of people who start training to become a pilot drop out before completing their Private Pilot's License. This is an incredible dropout rate. The primary reason, according to the data, stems from the cost of flight training and the time required to complete the training. Other reasons include lack of quality instruction and medical reasons, but the primary issue is simply that flight training does not become the priority they initially envisioned, preventing them from devoting the necessary money or time.

Many in the general aviation community recommend that people truly count the cost before sinking thousands of dollars into airplane rental and instructor fees, to ensure it is truly what they desire. This is excellent advice!

Need: Counting the Cost

Yet, here is the crucial point: we also need to count the cost. We must understand the cost of serving Christ and be willing to make the sacrifices that He calls us to make.

Setting the Stage

We have been carefully studying Luke 9. Throughout Chapter 9, we have seen a significant transition of ministry. Jesus began with clear demonstrations of His power, His enabling of His disciples, and even the Transfiguration. But as the chapter draws to a close, Jesus begins to explain the soteriological significance of His mission. Jesus is not just a traveling superhero moving from location to location; Jesus is the Savior of the world who has an incredible purpose, and He is resolutely determined to bring that purpose to fruition. For us, Chapter 9 presents a profound challenge. It tells us that for the one who chooses to follow Jesus, it outlines a path of radical self-denial — a call to follow Jesus in complete surrender of self and submission to the Father.

Body

Jesus Was **Resolutely** **Determined** to Follow the Will of God the Father (9:51-56)

Jesus Knew the Mission and Determined to Accept It (51)

Luke 2:22-40 stands as one of the most significant passages in Luke’s Gospel. As the birth narrative concludes, Jesus is presented at the temple in Jerusalem. In Luke 4:9, the testing of Satan climaxes again with Jesus in Jerusalem. Here, as Luke introduces the ultimate purpose of Jesus’ earthly coming, we again see Jerusalem as the designated location. Verse 51 also helps us to understand another key element of the work Jesus is doing: Jesus is not just going to die but He is also going to return to Heaven. Jesus had been careful; in Luke 9:22, He had already informed His disciples that death would not be the final outcome. Now Luke carefully draws out the reality of Jesus’ return to Heaven.

We also see an important transition. Throughout Luke 9, Jesus has been experiencing widespread success in ministry. It is clear that Jesus is God’s Chosen Christ, but as we conclude Luke 9, we are beginning to discern threads of struggle. Perhaps things will not be easy; perhaps this journey will not be a “cakewalk.”

Jesus Proceeded with Intentionality and Careful Planning (52-53)

The Samaritans occupied a deeply fraught position in first-century Jewish society. Their origins traced to intermarriage between Israelites left behind during the Assyrian deportation and foreign colonists resettled in the region. When Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple, they rejected Samaritan assistance, initiating centuries of mutual antagonism.

This hostility shaped daily interactions. Jewish custom explicitly forbade association with Samaritans, and most Jews typically avoided Samaritan territory entirely, preferring to cross the Jordan and travel through Perea between Galilee and Judea. Yet, this was not Jesus’ plan. Jesus intended to travel through Samaria and sent His disciples ahead to make preparations for Him.

However, events did not unfold as planned, and Jesus and His disciples were rejected. The text even reveals the reason for their rejection: He was clearly headed for Jerusalem. What is crucial to observe here, however, is the resoluteness of Jesus’ mission. While most would not have bothered to travel through Samaria, taking the long way instead, Jesus sought to expedite His journey to Jerusalem. This highlights His purpose and intentionality. Jesus knew what awaited Him, but that would not deter Him.

The Disciples Did Not Fully Understand What Jesus Was About to Do (54-56)

In verses 54 through 56, we are reminded that the disciples had no idea what to expect. James and John impulsively react, and in what they perceived as a righteous display of loyalty, they ask Jesus if He wants them to call down lightning on those who would dishonor their Lord. However honorable this seemed, it betrayed a profound misunderstanding of Jesus and His mission. Jesus did not come to Earth to conquer people and annihilate human enemies; He came to save and to serve. One of the hardest realities we may need to grasp is that while we owe God honor, we are not called to defend His honor ourselves.

In fact, verses 55-56 are quite challenging for us. Jesus turns and rebukes not the Samaritans who dishonored Him, but rather the disciples who misunderstood. Why? Because Jesus’ mission is one of salvation! Instead of calling down fire, the plan was simply to move on and pursue the more critical objective: the mission in Jerusalem.

Image: Checking If You Are Prepared

Emily and I travel frequently, and often when we do, we tend to pack rather carelessly and just bring along more than we might need. However, there are trips we have taken that require much more care.

When we traveled to Africa, we were told that we each could have one duffel bag, not exceeding 35 pounds, for two weeks on the African Savannah. This changed how we packed. Each item had a designated place and purpose; we brought nothing superfluous. We carefully planned out what we would use each day and which days we would be in a location where laundry was possible. When on mission, everything matters; there is no room to waste space or time on non-essentials.

We must approach the Gospel and following Jesus with similar intentionality. Our mission is unequivocally to save people. I am convinced we must focus more on the mission of spreading the Gospel and less on peripheral concerns. Therefore, cease calling fire down on trivial matters and instead prioritize sharing the Gospel.

The **True** **Cost** of Following Jesus (Luke 9:57-62)

It May Cost You Your Comfort (57-58)

On the surface, verses 57 and 58 appear straightforward. However, something deeper is at play here. A man comes to Jesus and informs Jesus of his intention to “throw in” with Him. But Jesus’ response is profound.

Jesus tells the man that foxes have dens and birds have nests. Some commentators have noted that Jesus earlier called Herod a “fox.” The reality of Jesus’ world was that non-Jews — such as the Romans and others — had a place in Israel’s land, but God’s chosen redeemer had no settled place.

There is a compelling point here. If you follow Jesus, you may find that you have no place to call your own. You may experience rejection. To be blunt, I have experienced this many times in my life. Even now, I often feel it regarding matters like politics; I have no clear “home.” Liberal ideologies often reject God’s rule, while some conservative applications may abuse it. I often feel as if I am in an interim state, without a political home.

Beyond politics, other areas present similar challenges. At social gatherings, I often find myself not fitting in because my approach to celebration differs from that of the world. Furthermore, even in moments intended for rest, I often find myself interrupted by the needs of others.

The reality is that the one who follows Christ finds themselves, in a sense, a “unicorn,” without a settled place. The call to follow Christ is a call to be willing to relinquish personal place and comfort.

It May Cost You Your Timing (59-60)

As if giving up your comfort is not enough, you may also have to give up the convenience of determining your own schedule. In verses 59 and 60, we meet another potential follower of Jesus. This man is willing but presents a few timing concerns. On the surface, this appears to be a legitimate concern. In Jewish culture, caring for one’s parents was a significant aspect of piety. However, Jesus’ call supersedes such obligations, and following Him does not afford the luxury of waiting until the “right” time. Jesus’ response might initially seem harsh: “Let the dead bury their dead.” Indeed!

Here is the profound reality: The individual who does not wholly and fully commit to Jesus, at the expense of all else, is, in fact, spiritually dead — a truth Jesus makes unequivocally clear. Anyone who fails to make room for following Jesus is spiritually dead.

It May Cost You Your Traditions (61-62)

In our third example, yet another individual approaches Jesus, again expressing a desire to follow Him.

Reflecting on 1 Kings 19:19-21 and the call of Elisha, we observe a similar account. Elisha, after being called by Elijah, requests permission to bid farewell to his parents. In 1 Kings, Elijah grants this request; however, here Jesus does not, instead telling the man that no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.

In fact, Jesus here uncovers a profound truth. When Elisha followed Elijah, he did say goodbye to his parents, but in doing so, he broke up the farm implements and slaughtered the oxen. Elisha’s farewell makes it unequivocally clear: he is never returning to his former way of life.

Going “all in” for Jesus means being willing to surrender everything, metaphorically “burning the ships.”

Image: The Image of Looking Back

I enjoy a well-mowed lawn with straight lines and carefully shaped edges. There are times when Emily asks to help, and I will give her a hard time, playfully asking if she intends to create any “mohawks.” She actually does an excellent job, but it’s enjoyable to tease.

Nevertheless, there is a technique to mowing straight lines. One must look forward and choose a distant point to aim for. If one focuses merely on the immediate foreground or glances backward, the result will be crooked lines.

The individual who commits to following Jesus but constantly looks back, or even just to the immediate front, misses the essence of the call. We follow Jesus with our gaze fixed on eternity, serving the God of eternity.

Paul: The Example of a **Willing** **Servant** (Acts 20:22-24)

The Background: Paul Saying Goodbye to the Ephesian Elders

In Acts 19, Paul experiences the unsettling event of a riot breaking out in Ephesus. The chapter closes with the city secretary settling the crowd down, but it becomes clear that significant division exists in the city due to this new group of people who call themselves Christians. Paul leaves the region and sets out into Macedonia. In Troas, Paul preaches a lengthy message, resulting in someone falling asleep, falling from a window, and dying. The man is raised from the dead miraculously, and significant events unfold in Troas. Reading the text, it seems Paul may have spent more time in Troas than anticipated (a common occurrence in ministry). Nevertheless, Paul continues forward, sending his companions ahead to Assos, permitting himself to travel by land to Miletus. Paul avoids Ephesus to expedite his journey to Jerusalem for Pentecost, avoiding a situation that was likely still tense from his previous visit. However, Paul does not wish to exclude the Ephesians; instead, he summons the elders from Ephesus to Miletus. Paul delivers a heartfelt sermon, divided into three parts: a review of his ministry in Ephesus, a description of current circumstances, and future responsibilities for the elders.

Let us now delve into the middle of that sermon as we conclude our study today.

The Hope: Paul Did Not Know What Would Happen in Jerusalem, But He Trusted God (22)

In verse 22, Paul states his intention to go to Jerusalem, feeling “compelled” by the Spirit, yet not knowing what specifically awaits him there. However, Paul also qualifies that statement: while he does not know the exact events, he is certain it will not be easy.

The Reality: Paul Did Know That What He Faced Was Going to Be Hard (23)

In verse 23, Paul informs the elders that whatever awaits him, he knows it will involve imprisonment (literally “bonds and fetters”) and hardships.

Paul was well-acquainted with hardship; he had been imprisoned in Philippi, brought before governors, beaten, and similar trials. Yet, this situation is somewhat unique because Paul is now being informed that he will experience great hardship, but the specific details are withheld. God is, in essence, telling Paul, “Follow Me; it will be difficult, and that is all I will reveal!” This raises the profound question: “How much do you truly trust Me, Paul?”

This is where commitment is truly tested. If God tells you to undertake a task with the promise of His protection, it is one thing. If God tells you to go, knowing you will suffer, it is quite another.

So, what then provides Paul with the resolve to follow the Spirit’s leading — the “compulsion,” if you will, of the Spirit?

The Cost-Benefit Analysis: Paul Knew That the End Was Worth the Pain (24)

In verse 24, we see that Paul has two basic convictions:

First, Paul’s life holds no intrinsic value for himself. Indeed, Paul uses much stronger language in Greek: οὐδενὸς λόγου* ποιοῦμαι τὴν ψυχὴν (literally, “I consider my life of no account/worth a single word”). Paul’s life possesses no value unless it is utilized for the Lord; and if his future involves execution after imprisonment for Christ, then so be it.

Second, Paul’s conviction is that his duty and calling are to preach the Gospel, bearing witness to the good news of God’s grace.

Paul employs powerful language to reiterate his point. Paul’s only aim is to finish the race. The Greek word for “race” here is δρόμον, which can also be translated as “course.” It described a race from one end of a Greco-Roman stadium to the other (approximately 200 yards). Paul recognizes that his life’s ultimate accomplishment — the very essence that makes his life worth living — is the Gospel. Paul desires to finish well, and if that entails pain, then so be it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study of Luke 9:51-62, supported by Paul’s example in Acts 20, profoundly challenges us to consider the true nature of discipleship. We have seen Jesus’ resolute determination to fulfill His mission of salvation, a purpose so paramount that He steadfastly set His face toward Jerusalem. This unwavering commitment highlights the cost of following Him: a willingness to surrender our comforts, our preferred timing, and even our cherished traditions. Like Paul, who counted his life as nothing apart from sharing the Gospel, we are called to a radical self-denial, fixing our gaze forward on Christ and His eternal Kingdom. May we, like these faithful servants, commit ourselves fully, understanding that the reward of God’s grace far outweighs any earthly sacrifice.