A Determined Face (Luke 9:51-62)

Most of us probably know what it’s like to have something we need to do, but we haven’t been able to do for some reason. Maybe we need to mow the lawn, weed the garden, fold the washing or clean the windows. For younger people, it might be that we have an assessment piece to complete, or we need to clean our room. Whatever it might be that we need to do, we can often reach a point when we decide that it is time to get the job done.

At times like that, we can get a look on our faces which reflects a determined resolve to do what we need to do. We can see it on the face of an Olympic runner on the starting blocks, or an Australian rules ruckman before the first bounce of a game. It’s a look that reflects focus, determination and commitment. This look tells everyone that we are here for one purpose only and nothing is going to get in our way until we achieve what we set out to do.

I wonder if Jesus had a similar look on his face at the start of this week’s gospel reading, Luke 9:51-62. Luke writes that, ‘As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem’ (v51 NLT). A more literal translation says Jesus ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem’ (ESV). Jesus probably didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to go to Jerusalem like we might decide to go out for coffee. Jesus made a decision which was going to shape the rest of his life. He was fulfilling his purpose for coming to earth, and completing the Father’s plan to save the world. Just like we might resolve that it’s time to do that job around the house we mentioned earlier, this was Jesus deciding that it was time for him to change the course of his life’s journey and head towards Jerusalem where he would be crucified, raised from the dead, and lifted up to the Father’s glory in eternity.

Luke follows this simple but important verse with stories of three people who either offered to follow Jesus in the way he was going or were called to follow him. Each of these merit a separate sermon of their own, but a brief summary of each dialogue helps us understand something about the path Jesus had resolved to follow.

Jesus said to the first person who promised to follow him that ‘foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ (v58 NIV). Jesus was saying that following him in the way he was travelling involves giving up our comfort and security. Jesus’ response to the second person sounds pretty harsh when he said, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God’ (v60 NIV). Here Jesus was saying that the priority of Jesus’ followers is not to mourn the past but proclaim the good news of Jesus’ victory over sin and death, and his reign as Lord of his eternal Kingdom. His response to the third person was also about looking forward, both literally and metaphorically, to what God has in store for his disciples. Jesus said, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’ (v62). The focus of Jesus’ followers is on the future in faith and hope as we wait for God to keep all his good promises to us in Jesus and we join with him in his mission to the world.

Many people hear this passage as talking about the cost of following Jesus. He could be asking us to give up our physical comfort and security, but it can also mean letting go of our safe, comfortable religious habits for a journey of faith as we follow him into the future. Jesus might be asking us not to mourn the past and the way things used to be but instead set our sights on proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom to the people around us in new and creative ways. It is possible that Jesus’ third response is challenging us to stop reminiscing about the way things used to be and instead look forward to what God wants to do in and through us for his Kingdom in this life and the next.

However we might understand Jesus’ words from these verses, how do we react to them? Are we full of faith and hope as we hear Jesus call us to leave our comfort, embrace his mission to proclaim the good news of his Kingdom to others, and focus on what’s ahead of us? Or do we want to hang on to what makes us feel comfortable and secure, mourning the ‘good old days’ of the past as we continually look back at how things used to be?

Jesus doesn’t force us to do anything we don’t want to do. Our place in his Kingdom doesn’t depend on making the right choice, or our success or failure to live up to his calling to follow him. It all depends on what Jesus has done for us in his infinite grace and love. ‘Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem’ (v51) knowing that we will always find it hard to leave our comfort and security, to fully commit to bring the good news of his Kingdom to others, and to focus on his future rather than our past. That was why he set his face towards Jerusalem: to do everything for us that we can’t do for ourselves. Jesus gave up the security and comfort of heaven to live as a homeless person before dying a shameful death on a cross. He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God to all who would listen so they could find new and eternal life through faith in him, even though it made the religious leaders of his day angry enough to kill him for it. Jesus looked forward to his eternal destination, enduring the shame of the cross so he could enjoy the glory he would receive as he sat down at the right hand of God in eternity (Hebrews 12:2). He did all that so that we can find security and comfort through faith in him and his love for us. He did all that so we can know the good news of the Kingdom for ourselves as he gives us citizenship in heaven as a free gift which we receive through faith. Jesus did all that so we can be free from our sins, mistakes, failings and bad choices of the past and we can look forward, both literally and metaphorically, to the full and abundant life that he gives us because of his life, death and resurrection for us.

We don’t know what these three people did after Jesus’ words to them. That gives us the opportunity to stand in their shoes and hear Jesus speak these words to us. Living as faith-filled followers of Jesus might mean leaving our comfort and security behind. He might be calling us to stop mourning the past and join him in his mission to proclaim the good news of his Kingdom to our families, friends and neighbours. Following Jesus might mean leaving the past in the past and instead looking forward to receiving every good thing he has promised us. Yes, following Jesus will cost us, but it’s pretty insignificant compared to what Jesus gave up for us. When Jesus calls us to follow him, will we go away sad because we don’t want to give up the things that are important to us? Or will we join him with our faces set, showing our determination to follow him, wherever he might lead us?

More to think about or discuss:

• Have you ever decided that it was time to get something done? What was it? What made you decide that? How did it work out?
• What do you think it means that ‘Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem’ (v51)? Why do you think he did that?
• Which of Jesus’ 3 responses in verses 58, 60 & 62 do you find most difficult? Why do you find it hard? How might trusting in what Jesus has already done help you follow him?