On to Jerusalem

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:51-62

The time was growing short. The Galilean ministry was done. The destination: Jerusalem. By way of Samaria. Samaritans were hostile to all Jews and knew no reason to make an exception for Jesus and His men. There was a long history of animosity between these two peoples, having to do with pagan practices and counterfeit, corrupt religion as well as intermarriage with worshippers of Baal. Therefore, Jesus' company was not welcomed in that village. James and John, "Sons of Thunder" knew just what needed to be done about that. They had apparently become a little heady with Jesus' delegated authority, but didn't yet have the maturity to apply that authority with the grace of its originator. Having come so far with Him, they were still quite emotionally volatile in their responses to circumstance. Shallow. Reactionary. Prejudiced. Jesus corrected them about it and they moved on. The opportunity was offered and rejected. Jesus doesn't force Himself on those who are negative to His grace.

There were hangers-on, groupies, as His celebrity grew throughout the area. There were enthusiastic but insincere people such as the man who vowed to follow Him anywhere. Jesus informed him it was not an adventure, but hardship, with uncertain accommodations.

There was the hesitant believer, called by Jesus, who needed to first "bury my father." The father wasn't being prepared for burial, but the man meant he must take care of his father until he died. Then he would be willing to go with Jesus. He was told the (spiritually) dead could take care of the end of life details. Now is the time to proclaim the gospel.

The third man wanted to go, after he went back to settle up things at home with his family. This was no time for looking back. If the plowman looks behind himself, the furrow will be crooked. (The burden of discipleship: not what it costs me, but what it costs my loved ones-- Oswald Chambers).

The pace was picking up. The apostles were loyal, but immature. The crowds were interested, but mixed in their responses. Nevertheless, it was onward to the destiny He came to fulfill. No time for coddling wannabees. Jerusalem was His point of departure. At Passover. Moving on.