Luke 9:51 marks a major transition in the gospel story. Thus far, Jesus’ ministry has been centered in Galilee, the northern region of Israel. From here until 19:44, Luke traces Jesus’ journey through Samaria to Jerusalem, where he would ultimately be “delivered into the hands of men.” This section is like separating wheat from chaff. On one hand, it focuses on the growing opposition toward Jesus which eventually culminates in his betrayal and crucifixion. On the other hand, it highlights the growth of the disciples as Jesus continues to prepare them for ministry after his ascension. Whereas miracles dominated the previous section, parables and teaching are the key elements in this unit.
In today’s Scripture reading, Luke tells us a story about “Flame Throwers and Fox Holes.” It teaches us how to respond to rejection and about the demands of discipleship.
Flame Throwers: Responding to Rejection (51-56)
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he started his journey to Jerusalem by making the unlikely decision to travel through Samaria. There was deep racial and religious tensions between the Jews and Samaritans. To Jews, Samaritans were a bunch of yellow-bellied back-stabbing half-breed heretics. This people traced its roots back to Old Testament times when a groups of Israelites from the city of Samaria broke ranks and intermarried with the pagan Assyrians, their archenemies. The prejudice between these groups was so deep that Jews would almost always take the long way around the east side of the Jordan River to get from Galilee to Judea. Most Jews refused to dirty their feet by stepping on Samaritan soil, but that is exactly what Jesus wanted to do.
As Jesus had done many times before, he sent messengers ahead of him to make reservations for food and lodging in a nearby village. When he and his group arrived, the villagers recognized that these boys weren’t from around there. They asked, “Where you fellas head’n anyway.” Jesus casually looked up and said, “We’re heading south…to Jerusalem.” Well, that was the worst thing he could have said. The word “Jerusalem” caused their blood to boil: it was the Jews capital city and the location of what they considered to be an apostate temple.
So, they discriminated against Jesus and his followers by flat out denying them services. They may as well have put up a “No Jews Allowed” poster on the grocery store window and place a “No Vacancy” sign at the Samaritan Central Hotel.
This passage reminds me of a little poem from 1968. It goes like this:
I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
Hey, mister, can you tell me, where a man might find a bed?
He just grinned and shook my hand, “No” was all he said.…
Have you ever been the victim of racism, religious discrimination, or some other type of prejudice? Have you ever been turned down, turned away, or rejected because you look different, talk different, or believe differently from someone else? Rejection, of any sort, hurts the heart and wounds the soul, and it usually either causes tears to flow or tempers to rise. How do you respond to rejection?
Well, when Jesus’ disciples James and John, saw what happened, they were royally ripped and were immediately ready to retaliate. Jesus had nicknamed these two brothers “The Sons of Thunder” for good reason. Their reaction is utterly astounding, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” This is just a slightly more sanctified version of saying “Jesus, do want me to go to my pickup truck and get my sawed-off shotgun and blow these suckers away?” Their instinctual response to rejection was to pray for God to pull out his heavenly flamethrower and incinerate these Samaritan simpletons. That is certainly one way of dealing with people who treat you poorly.
This passage reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend about 11 years ago. My friend, who will remain nameless, was an excellent marksman in the United States Marine Corp. and he served as a sniper during the Vietnam War. He is one of the few veterans that I know who talks openly about his combat experience. He asked me, “How’s your ministry going up there in Franklin.” I told him that it was going well. Then he said, “Well, if anyone in your church ever gives you any problems, you let me know. I know how to deal with people.” Now my friend has that type of quirky personality where you’re never sure if he is serious or not. Consequently, I am happy to report that I have never had to call him. Well, at least not yet!
Many people today are just like James and John. When they face any form of rejection, discrimination, or hostility, their immediate response is to fight back—either verbally, legally, physically, or even spiritually. But Jesus boldly rebukes this kind of pietistic pyromaniac attitude! Jesus came to save people; not destroy them!
Notice how Jesus dealt with rejection! He didn’t form a protest march to fight for his civil rights. He didn’t organize a rally to rail against this overt racial and religious discrimination of his day. He didn’t go to the media and make some political statement about how he was victimized by an unjust system? He didn’t engage in any debates over whether “Jewish Lives Matter” or “Samaritan Lives Matter.” He didn’t whine, complain, or become angry; and he certainly did not resort to violence. Do you know what he did? He simply moved on to another village!
Do you know what happens when everybody (even Christians) digs in their heels and fights for their rights? Before long, everybody is fighting each other. But Jesus shows us a better way! He would ultimately be rejected by people and be led like a lamb to the slaughter. He would willingly allow his hands and feet to be nailed to a wooden cross and die for the very people who put him there. That is how Jesus responds to rejection! How about you?
Fox Holes: The Demands of Discipleship (57-62)
As the smoke began to clear and Jesus and his disciples were walking toward another village, he had three random encounters that he used to teach us about the demands of discipleship—or what it takes to be a true follower of Jesus.
One individual approached him and made the confident claim, “I will follow you wherever you go.” At least the man already understood that to be a disciple of Jesus required a willingness to follow him wherever he went, but Jesus detected an overzealousness in his voice and wondered if he really understood the ramifications of his claim. So, Jesus helped him reflect on this by offering him a vivid image of the demands of discipleship. His now famous words, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” compelled the man to consider whether or not he is really willing to give up the comforts and conveniences of an ordinary life to follow Jesus. Isn’t it ironic that even the animals have a home, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords never knew if he would have a simple bed or pillow to rest his weary head? As we just saw, Jesus had been denied basic travel necessities.
In this brief exchange, Jesus is making the point that true discipleship demands a willingness to face uncertainty, hardship, and rejection. He never promises that the Christian life will be easy, but it always requires sacrifice!
Please don’t misunderstand what Jesus is saying. He is not saying that Christians shouldn’t own property or have possessions or save money. He is saying is that one must never allow earthly possessions to get in the way of discipleship. He has not called us to a life of luxury, but to a life of sacrifice. His powerful words force us to ask ourselves, “Am I willing to give up everything to follow Jesus?
The next two encounters show Jesus initiating the call of discipleship to others, only to be met by excuses. The first man said that he would follow Jesus, but he first wanted to go and bury his father. At first glance, most people assume that this conversation took place between the time the man’s father died and when he was buried, but that is not the case here. He was really asking Jesus to let him care for his father during his declining years until he died. But Jesus discerned that this man was using his family situation as an excuse for delaying his discipleship. So, he responded with blunt but humorous paradox: “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
When Jesus extended the call of discipleship to another man, this guy offered a similar excuse, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those in my home.” Jesus responded to this plea with the proverb: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” In farming, the best way to plow a straight row is to keep looking ahead at some fixed point in the distance ahead; looking back would cause zigzags all over the countryside. Likewise, Jesus was saying: True discipleship demands fixing your eyes on me and not looking back for any reason.(Ryken 502)
Both of these encounters are getting at the same thing: If we want to be a true disciples, it demands immediate commitment and utmost loyalty, even over one’s family. Nothing is more important than following Jesus, not even the claims of our own families, which are the strongest of all earthly claims. If it comes down to a choice—as it sometimes does—we must do what Jesus wants us to do, not what our families want us to do! (Ryken 505)
When people say “I love my spouse more than anything” or “I always put my kids first,” they are committing the sin of idolatry. What they are really saying is “I love the gift more than the gift-giver!”
Who do you love most? Who is your top priority? Who has your undivided loyalty? If it is not Jesus, then you are not a true disciple yet!
The demands of discipleship are hard! True disciples of Jesus don’t retaliate with violence when they are rejected. True disciples are willing to leave everything behind for him: property, money, material possessions, personal ambitions, comfort, convenience, security, and yes, even your family! The story of flame throwers and fox holes requires all of us to reckon with our relationship with Jesus Christ. And so, where are you?