Radical sayings of Jesus: Become a servant, part 2

Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Sunday 13 August 2018

There was no title given for the sermon, I am using the one from the pew sheet. I can only assume the sermon was changed since the pew sheet was printed a few weeks ago.

In yesterday’s blog, I wrote about my reactions to the church service as a description of how an autistic mind can wander in just a few minutes. That process will be repeated several times in a service. However, that does not mean I do not listen to the sermon of prayers, a mind that cannot turn stimulus off has to learn to multi-task. I also take notes during the sermon, but mostly this is just an impression of what was said.

The sermon was on Luke 9:57-42.

Jesus is trying to put people off from following him. In churches faced with dropping numbers, there is a desire to do whatever we can to bring people in. But Jesus did not do this. Jesus would not call people without making the cost of following him known.

The cost of following Jesus is everything.

There are three connected radical sayings of Jesus

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.” Luke 9:57,58

There’s a security in being at home. Jesus call is to take us away from this security and have him alone as our security.

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 9:59,60

Family comes first, we say. Jesus’ call to follow him comes first, even before family.

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 a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 9:61,62

There is no compromise. Jesus calls us to put him first, above all things. Now.

Lindy from our congregation has done this when she went to work on Mercy Ships. She sold all her possessions, Curate Steve, giving this sermon, has some of them, before going to live on a ship on the African coast, following God’s call.

That is the same commitment to Jesus to which we are all called.