You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Amen. Thank you all. Beautiful song.
When we moved to Huntsville about nine years ago, we noticed something really quickly.
We noticed that there were regularly and at all times of day these loud explosions.
We called them booms because we had little kids.
We didn't know at first that living near the arsenal would be so noticeable.
And so there would be times where we'd be walking around and all of a sudden just jump or scream because the explosion startled us.
But if you've lived here in Huntsville for a while, you may have had the same experience that we did.
Pretty quickly, the regular explosions became a part of life.
It was something that even at times faded into the background.
We didn't even realize they were happening anymore.
The kids stopped being woken up from naps and slept straight through them.
We carried on with our day and we'd have guests come in town to stay with us.
And in the middle of a conversation, they would, what was that?
And we would say, what was what?
We didn't notice anything.
Oh, oh yeah.
It's the arsenal.
We didn't even hear it.
Things that used to startle us and shake our lives and change things about our days faded into the background.
Stopped impacting our lives.
We got so used to them.
And I tell you that today because here we are singing songs about Jesus and the cross again.
In the passage we're going to read, Jesus is going to talk again about the importance of his going to the cross.
And since it's the same thing we've heard before, we have a tendency in our hearts to get used to it and disregard it.
Say, oh, pastor didn't tell me anything I didn't know this morning.
Nothing really new.
But Jesus keeps talking about the cross and it keeps coming up for us not because he thinks we need new information.
But because our hearts and our lives need transformation.
And the cross of Christ is not simply some preacher's hobby horse that he loves to talk about.
It is the message of salvation.
The good news of grace.
The hope of the world.
And so we talk about it.
The wonderful cross bids me come and die and find that I may truly live.
Maybe you don't realize what an outrageous claim that is.
But that's the claim that Jesus makes.
About himself and his cross.
So we dare not allow the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ to become background noise in our lives.
It's my encouragement to us as we turn to God's word this morning.
Let's pray together and ask God to help us hear and heed his word again this morning.
Pray with me.
Father your word is truth.
It is sweeter than honey from the comb.
It is exactly what we need.
So we ask that you would speak to us through it clearly.
That we might love and follow Jesus more.
We ask in his name.
Amen.
Luke chapter 9 at verse 51.
This is God's holy word.
The God of heaven and earth speaking to you this morning.
Hear his voice.
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up.
He set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he sent messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him.
But the people did not receive him.
Because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw it.
They said Lord do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?
But he turned and rebuked them.
And they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road someone said to him.
I will follow you wherever you go.
And Jesus said to him.
Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests.
But the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.
To another he said follow me.
But he said Lord let me first go and bury my father.
And Jesus said to him leave the dead to bury their own dead.
But as for you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
Yet another said I will follow you Lord.
But let me first say farewell to those at my home.
Jesus said to him.
No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
Grass withers the flowers fade.
These words of our God will stand forever.
I mentioned the booms from the arsenal today.
Because it's in this passage that Jesus here sets out on a journey to Jerusalem.
It's going to take up the next 10 plus chapters of the Gospel of Luke.
In other words the next 25 to 30 years of your life in our sermon series.
Not quite that long.
But Jesus is headed to Jerusalem.
And that's exactly what begins to shape the stories as we follow.
He will teach a lot along the way.
He will do a lot of amazing things along the way.
And those are important.
But the whole time the story is framed by his journey to Jerusalem.
For the most important thing.
As his days on earth draw near to their conclusion.
He's going to keep sounding that note.
That primary focus that comes up.
He set his face to go to Jerusalem.
He's so committed to doing that.
That is so much a part of a priority for him.
That everyone around him begins to notice.
Verse 53.
The Samaritans notice his face was set toward Jerusalem.
This is where he's headed.
Jesus and his disciples along with him.
They're Jerusalem or bust.
This is the priority.
It's where we're going.
It's like you write that in shoe polish on the back of your minivan.
Disney or bust.
This is where we're going.
We will get there.
This is where our hearts are set on being.
I picture Jesus and his disciples all in a car much smaller than a minivan.
Thirteen grown men in one accord.
The Bible says.
Thank you.
That was really tolerant actually.
I couldn't resist the oldest and worst preacher joke that there is.
It was just too close.
But Jesus and his disciples are going Jerusalem or bust.
That is where they're headed.
It's where their hearts are set.
They're going there.
Why?
Why is Jesus so set on Jerusalem?
What's the big deal?
It's not a vacation, is it?
They're not going there because it's a great place to be.
Jesus' face being set toward Jerusalem echoes the words of prophets like Isaiah.
Who says the Messiah sets his face like a flint to walk into suffering.
Isaiah 50 verse 6.
This is just part of the context.
I gave my back to those who strike.
My cheeks to those who pull out the beard.
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
But the Lord God helps me.
Therefore I have not been disgraced.
Therefore I have set my face like a flint.
And know that I shall not be put to shame.
I'm going toward this suffering.
My face is set on it, Jesus says.
It's what he's been saying already in Luke chapter 9, isn't it?
As we've studied here through the past few weeks, verse 22.
Jesus said the Son of Man must suffer many things.
And be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes.
And where's he going to do that?
Where do you find the elders and the chief priests and the scribes?
That's in Jerusalem.
And be killed.
Verse 44.
He says to his disciples,
Let these words seek into your ears.
The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.
We're going somewhere.
And we're going there to suffer.
And to die.
That's why Jesus is set on going to Jerusalem.
And he demonstrates here for us again his single-minded commitment to his redemptive mission.
This is what he's about, right?
It hasn't changed.
He sets his face to endure the cross.
To pay for the sins of his people.
To restore every inch of his creation to the way he created it to be.
To establish his kingdom as a refuge for all who are in need of rescue.
That's what he's about.
The journey to Jerusalem is not a vacation at all.
And yet, Jesus is calling us to join him in that journey.
He's called us already to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him.
And here in this passage, as he calls again, we're going to see some different responses to that call on our lives.
First, we see the response of the Samaritans.
Their flat-out, principled rejection of Jesus.
Verse 52.
He sent messengers ahead of him who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him.
But the people there did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
The Samaritans didn't receive him.
Why is that?
Why did Jesus going to Jerusalem bother them?
Why didn't they want him to stop and stay along the way?
You may or may not know that the Samaritans and Jews weren't the best of friends.
The Samaritans had at least some Jewish blood, some Jewish heritage in them.
But they had rejected the Jewish people, religiously believing they had the true understanding of God.
They believed Yahweh wanted to be worshipped on Mount Gerizim in their territory.
Not on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the way we read about in the Old Testament.
The Samaritans have adopted their own holy books and as such have their own set of messianic expectations.
What they're looking for in a king and a rescuer, a deliverer for them.
And this is not it.
Any supposed religious leader, Messiah, who thinks he needs to get to Jerusalem is a fraud by their account.
They won't join Jesus' journey even as hospitable hosts.
They want nothing to do with him on religious principle.
They simply reject him and his message.
Now maybe that's where you've been with Jesus or where you are this morning with him.
You just don't believe he is the hope of the world.
The only savior of sinners.
The way for you to be restored to God.
If that's the case, if that's where you are and you just say, listen, I've heard it before but I don't believe it.
If that's you, I'd love to talk with you.
I'd love to be able to have that conversation.
Maybe you, like the Samaritans, probably would have believed that whether or not Jesus was God himself was of utmost importance.
Maybe you'd acknowledge that and say, yeah, who Jesus is really does matter.
Matter, I'd love to have the conversation with you to talk about your questions and your personal concerns and what makes you wrestle with Jesus.
But before we leave this principled, upfront rejection of Jesus rather than talking to me, I want you to see Jesus' response.
It's in verse 54 after his disciples have a suggestion.
His disciples James and John saw it.
They saw that Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans and they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?
But Jesus turned and rebuked James and John.
Jesus said, by no means.
James and John want to call down fire from heaven like Elijah.
Jesus said, by no means.
He says, by no means.
Jesus said, by no means.
That He really is God.
And by exercising judgment upon them.
Jesus rebukes His disciples in a way that demonstrates they don't really understand the point of His journey.
The mission that Jesus is on.
He's on a mission to redeem.
He bears patiently with those who reject Him
and He heads to the cross to suffer and die
quite possibly for some of them,
some of those Samaritans who would yet come
to believe in Him.
Yes, the Bible speaks of judgment for sure.
But Jesus' single-minded commitment
to head to Jerusalem is to redeem.
That's what's on His heart.
It's the stance that He calls those who follow Him
to have toward those who do not yet believe in Him.
If you're a follower of Christ,
this is how He calls you to treat others
who don't follow Him.
Not to be eager to see their judgment,
but to be anxious for their redemption.
A friend who rejects Jesus offhand,
who says, no, no, no, Christianity,
I've seen it and it's not for me.
Jesus persists in loving you
even in your unbelief.
Maybe you feel like you've settled that years ago
in your mind.
It just wasn't true.
He just wasn't worth it.
He's been patient.
He's brought you back here again this morning
to hear His Word
and to see His heart
to rescue and to redeem.
Jesus is the Savior who comes and calls to you
and says there's no other way.
Come and trust Me.
Oh, I'd urge you to investigate that,
to listen to Him,
to hear His Word again.
But many of us here this morning
aren't publicly and on principle
rejecting Jesus.
We're in church after all, right?
Now that's why we're here.
I've publicly said,
I'll follow Jesus.
Many of us have.
We'd say we're on that journey with Jesus.
But what does that really mean?
Jesus is about to raise that issue
in the rest of our passage
so it gets a little bit harder for us.
You may know that Skeet Simonis,
one of our elders,
and I are preparing to go on a trip
to India this October.
We're partnering with one of our mission partners
there in India.
Going to India is not a cheap,
trip.
So when you think about taking a trip,
there are always costs associated,
not just mission trips,
but business trips and personal trips.
They have costs.
And if you're like me,
you consider them up front
before you make the decision
to go on the trip.
Perhaps the most obvious costs are financial.
There's travel and lodging and food
to be taken into account.
To be on the trip will call me
to financial commitment.
But there are a lot of other costs
of taking a trip.
The people you will be gone from.
I'll miss my family for two weeks.
That's no small thing.
The comforts of life you will miss.
Being able to sleep in your own bed,
drink water from a tap,
and so forth.
Going on the trip will cost missing other events
and activities that you would have been a part of back home.
For me,
heyday falls in the midst of the India trip.
So I don't even get to be in a dunking booth all fall.
It's a huge cost for me.
I really do miss being with you all.
Whatever the costs are to a journey,
to a trip you're taking,
you have to evaluate them up front
and then decide,
so given all these costs,
is the trip worth it?
Is it worth it for you to take that trip,
to make the journey that you're considering?
And that's what Jesus challenges us to do
with the journey of following Him.
He's calling us to follow Him to the cross,
to suffering on a redemptive mission,
no matter what the cost.
And He's not unclear on this.
It's not hard to understand.
In fact, He's already told us a few weeks ago
that it could cost us everything.
What He does this morning
is just get more specific
on what those costs might be.
He and His disciples encounter on their journey
three people
who, unlike the Samaritans who reject Him offhand,
say they're interested in joining Jesus on the journey.
They've shown up at church, perhaps.
They've talked about Jesus.
And yet, practically speaking,
when it comes to their lives,
the cost may be too high for them.
First one is in verse 57.
As they were going along the road,
someone said to Him,
I will follow you wherever you go.
And Jesus said to him,
foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.
This man says,
I'll follow you anywhere, Jesus.
And Jesus says,
well, hold on a second.
Let me make sure you know what you mean by that.
It may not be where you think you'll be following me.
It's not glamorous.
Truly following me means being uncomfortable
and unwelcome in this world.
I don't even have the homes the animals do,
Jesus says.
Jesus has experienced this no room at the inn response
from the world all the way back to His birth
and all the way up to the verses we just read from the Samaritans.
Part of the cost of following Jesus
is being uncomfortable and unwelcome in this world,
facing hardship and rejection.
Part of the cost of following Jesus
is being uncomfortable and unwelcome in this world,
facing hardship and rejection.
Rejection.
It doesn't sound like a sales pitch, does it?
Jesus is trying to be honest about the cost.
And sometimes we sit there
and those words go right over our head
and we think I've heard that before.
Hardship and rejection.
And hardship and rejection.
Uncomfortable.
Unwelcome.
These aren't the things you usually wake up
searching out every morning.
What does that cost look like for us?
It could mean you don't live in the neighborhood you'd prefer
because the world doesn't give you that option
or you choose not to take that option
for the sake of the kingdom.
It could mean you make less money
because you're pursuing Jesus more.
It could mean you get left out of a group
because of your commitment not to get drunk
or your passion for the Lord's Day.
Whatever it is,
if you're not willing to be uncomfortable,
and unwelcome in this world,
you aren't really journeying with Jesus.
There's a second interaction in verses 59 and 60.
Another man comes up and Jesus says to him,
follow me.
But the man said,
Lord, let me first go and bury my father.
Jesus said to him,
leave the dead to bury their own dead,
but as for you,
go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
This guy's got interest in Jesus.
He likes him.
He calls him Lord.
And he's got important things to do.
This was a high social priority in these days.
It could have taken up to a year or more
to complete the appropriate burial process
for a family member.
And this was so important in this society
that it actually took priority over circumcision,
over the Passover sacrifice,
over other important religious obligations
you had to fulfill.
All of those were put off
while you handled the burial.
That's how high a priority this was.
And Jesus says,
there's something else of higher priority
that cannot be delayed.
Following me.
Proclaiming the kingdom of God.
Offering life.
Not dealing with death.
And Jesus is not saying
that social customs and family values
and honored traditions
are necessarily bad things.
He is saying
they should never be chosen
over him and his kingdom.
Jesus may call you to the mission field
instead of the four years of college
that you've been looking forward to
and everyone expects you to enjoy.
He may call you to invest
in a kingdom opportunity
with a needy friend
instead of becoming an elder at your church
like people have been expecting you to
and you've been hoping for.
He may call you to a new area of ministry
that wrecks your retirement plans
everybody's been hearing about for years.
If you're unwilling to prioritize
the mission of his kingdom
over social norms
and honored traditions
you aren't really journeying
with Jesus.
Finally Jesus pushes on those
family relationships one more time.
He knows our hearts
are deeply committed there.
So verse 61
another man comes and says
I will follow you Lord
but let me first say farewell
to those at my home.
And Jesus said to him
no one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back
is fit
for the kingdom of God.
Seems like a good idea right?
I'm going to be gone for a while.
Let me go say goodbye first.
Listen Jesus is not against
loving your family.
But just like with
the guy and his father
Jesus says
the primacy of the kingdom
must be clear.
We need to face
straight on this morning
some of our
idolatries
here.
For some
the cost of this
with our families
is so painful
it means being shunned.
Never getting to
speak to our families
again
when you convert
to Christianity
from another religion.
For others
it's different.
It may mean
clinging to Jesus
when your children
disdain you
for how you're
raising them.
For others
the cost may be
the family you've
dreamed of
not marrying
the guy
you really like
because he doesn't
share your heart
for following Christ.
Or it may be
the cost of the stage
of life
you thought you were in
as God leads you
to foster
or adopt
someone into your family
and it's going to disrupt
where you thought
you'd finally gotten.
But if you're
unwilling to sacrifice
your ideal
family relationships
for the sake
of kingdom priorities
you're not
really
journeying
with Jesus.
That's what Jesus
is calling us to do
isn't it?
It's not unclear here.
He says
follow me
proclaim the kingdom
now
don't let the
practical realities
of life
keep you from
actually following me
as you say you want
to do
don't say you'll
follow me
but reject me
in your life
he says that
to all of us
kids
don't say
I'm too young
I'll follow Jesus
when I'm an adult
college students
young adults
don't say
oh I'm going to
follow Jesus
after just a
few years
of pursuing
my own
pleasures
and my own
dreams
I'll follow
him
later
young
couples
don't say
I'll come to
church again
once I have
kids
I'll give
to the kingdom
again
once we make
more money
young
families
don't say
I'll look for
others to love
and share
the kingdom
with
once my
kids are
grown
and I
actually
have the
time to
think about
anything
else
empty
nesters
don't say
I'm checking
out of
church
now that
the kids
are gone
or I'll
re-engage
with my
neighbors
once I
retire
and have
the
margin
for them
retirees
don't say
I've journeyed
with Jesus
so long
so many
years
now I
can live
for myself
no
the call
is to
follow
Jesus
now
today
for all
of us
it's a
clear call
to sacrifice
comforts
and successes
and other
priorities
now
to have
the glory
of the
gospel
the redemptive
mission
of Jesus
so shake
your heart
and startle
you
that you
would give
up anything
to follow
him
that it
would transform
your life
it would
grab the
attention
the affection
of your
hearts
and that
every decision
would be
made in
light of
it
now
you follow
Jesus
no matter
the cost
his call
is really
clear
what's not
clear
interestingly
is the
response
to that
call
and if you
noticed
it's an
interesting
literary
device
that we
don't know
how any
of these
three men
responds
to Jesus
do we
Jesus
responds
to them
but
we don't
know
do they
join him
on the
journey
or turn
to their
other
priorities
when they
count the
cost
is Jesus
worth it
it's a way
that Luke
can put the
question to
each of us
you don't know
how they respond
how will
we
respond
are the
practical
priorities
of your
life
revealing
a rejection
of Jesus
it's
unsettling
isn't it
that's
good
otherwise
I don't
think I've
been faithful
to this
part of
God's
word
I've got
to tell
you honestly
if our
studies in
Luke
just this
summer
haven't
created
some
challenging
conversations
for you
at home
we probably
missed Jesus
message
we don't
naturally
get it
and it
doesn't
naturally
fit
what we
expect
I hope
the gospel
is exploding
again
in your
ears
and that
it's
shaking
your hearts
and lives
in ways
that you
can't
ignore
I certainly
haven't given
every answer
to every
situation
but Jesus
has shown
us a clear
priority
for himself
he's told
us where
he's headed
and a clear
call to
follow him
there
it doesn't
matter what
it will
cost
he's telling
us that
he's worth
it
last week
many of us
got to hear
from one of
our
long time
mission
partners
he was
back in
town
and telling
us that
he just
had a
grandchild
who's
eight months
old
his first
grandchild
he and his
wife left
their kids
and grandchild
just
Wednesday
to go
back to
the Middle
East
to pastor
an international
church
in a
dangerous
war-torn
part of
the world
and he
shared with
us about
his heart
for that
his report
was so
interesting
and so
challenging
but I
think my
favorite part
was something
his son
said
the father
of the new
grandchild
was here
with his
missionary
dad
a 27
year old
who'd grown
up on
the mission
field
and we
asked him
how do you
feel about
granddad
heading over
to the
Middle East
again
and he
said this
he said
I grew
up in
a Christian
home
but I
wasn't a
Christian
until high
school
and part
of my
conversion
experience
was reading
1 Corinthians
15
and it
said
I passed
along to
you
the things
that are
of first
importance
and there
that Christ
died for
our sins
according to
the scriptures
that he was
buried
and he was
raised from
the dead
on the
third day
and he
said I
read that
and I
thought to
myself
my mom
and dad
actually
believe
that those
are the
most important
things
I looked
at my
parents
lives
and I
said those
are the
most important
things to
them
and he
said that
was a
significant
part of
me
coming to
trust in
Jesus
myself
so I'm
sad
that they'll
be gone
and that my
child won't
have his
grandparents
nearby
in the next
few years
but how
could I
not be
glad
to see
them live
that
commitment
out
before many
others
who need
to know
the hope
of Jesus
as I
did
kids
and adults
this is
what is
of
first
importance
kids
this is
why your
parents
are here
this morning
they could
be out
making more
money
somewhere
they could
be out
having more
fun
somewhere
but they're
here because
what is of
first importance
is the
cross
of Jesus
Christ
and his
love for
them
Jesus
gathers us
around this
table
regularly
so that
we don't
forget
what is
of first
importance
that he
came
to the
cross
to die
for us
to redeem
us
remember
how Paul
said
I received
from the
Lord what
I also
delivered
to you
that the
Lord Jesus
on the
night he
was betrayed
took bread
and when he
had given
thanks he
broke it
and said
this is my
body which
is for you
do this
in remembrance
of me
in the same
way also he
took the
cup after
supper saying
this cup is
the new
covenant in
my blood
do this as
often as you
drink it in
remembrance of
me for as
often as you
eat this bread
and drink the
cup you
proclaim the
Lord's death
until he
comes and
that's what
you've been
called to do
is to
proclaim his
kingdom
to follow
him
and so if
you're a
follower of
Jesus Christ
come
this is
food for
the journey
to strengthen
you as you
follow him in
difficult places
even to
death
come and
rejoice and
celebrate
if you're
here and
you're a
follower of
Christ but
not a
member of
this church
this is
not our
table it's
his
it's his
table he
calls all
of us to
come and
celebrate
together who
would turn
from our
sin and
embrace him
again who
have joined
any church
that preaches
the gospel of
Jesus Christ
alone for
salvation come
and celebrate
if you don't
know him if
you've rejected
him on
principle if
you've said
you know
what it's
good to know
Jesus but
there's some
other things
that you have
to do too
or I'm
hedging my
bets I
don't know
if he's
going to
come through
I'd really
rather something
else don't
don't come to
this table
rather consider
coming to
Jesus
Jesus says
don't come
and do
something that
would profess
outwardly what's
not true of
you inwardly
and when you
come to this
table you say
the death of
Jesus in my
place is the
only thing that
brings me to
sit down with
my heavenly
father in
fellowship with
him if that's
your heart come
and feast if
it's not he
patiently comes
to you to
redeem he
goes to the
cross because
he loves the
world won't
you trust Jesus
and come to
him let me
pray and then
we'll come to
this table
father thank
you for a
table that
reminds us
what's of
first importance
gave us this
to do
repeatedly
because you
wanted us to
remember and
to proclaim
your death
until you
come and we
do it this
morning we
proclaim there's
nothing in us
good enough to
commend it to
you but there
is plenty in
the life and
death and
resurrection of
Jesus and we
hold on to him
this morning to
encourage us in
our faith through
these elements in
Jesus name amen
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