READING: Luke 13-14 – Repent or Perish, Sabbath Healings & Cost of Discipleship

Some told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices. [Galileans were prone to rebellion.] Jesus asked if they thought these were worse sinners than others, then said, “Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Then He spoke of eighteen who died when a tower fell on them and asked again if they were worse than others. He again said, “Unless you repent, you will all perish.” They perished in A.D. 70, for they did not repent. 

Jesus continued to heal on the Sabbath. In one synagogue he saw a woman who was bound by Satan for eighteen years. He laid his hands on her and she was well. The synagogue leader said, “There are six days to come and be healed, but not on the Sabbath.” Jesus said, all of you lead your ox or donkey to give it water. Shouldn’t this daughter of Abraham be released from her bondage?  

A leading Pharisee had Jesus come for Sabbath dinner. There was a man there with dropsy, and they watched Him to see if He would heal him. He asked, “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath or not?“ They were silent. Jesus healed the man and sent him away. Then he said, “If you have a child that falls in a well on the Sabbath, will you not pull him out immediately?” Their Sabbath rules were hypocritical. 

Jesus told several parables in these two chapters: The barren fig tree that needed manure, the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast in three measures of flour that grew and swelled, and the Great Dinner where the invited guests made excuses when a messenger said everything is ready; come now to the feast. The host sent his servant to invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame from the city streets; when there was still room, the servant was sent into the country roads and lanes to compel people to come to the feast. These kingdom of heaven parables were directed at Israel, who were the first invited but refused to come. 

Jesus turned to the crowd following Him and said, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even life itself cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Jesus must have first place in our lives; putting Him first means other relationships become better. 

What is the cost of discipleship? Moses knew the cost. “By Faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Paul counted the cost; “This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of gloryu beyond all measure.” Give up fleeting pleasures and endure momentary affliction to receive eternal glory.  

That is the cost of following Jesus. 

Will you follow Jesus? Will I? 

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

O Father in Heaven, Hard sayings abound in these chapters. Give me grace that I may walk in these words of Jesus. This is, my prayer, in Jesus’s powerful name, I pray, AMEN! 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for me) 

 Holy Father, I pray for all who may read these words (and for myself) that each of us will hear Jesus’ words in these chapters – and do them from our hearts that we may truly be his disciples. This is my prayer, in Jesus’s Holy Name, AMEN!