Does God really expect us to place our devotion to Jesus above spouse, children, job and country? Within the Christian practice of discipleship this question is one of the most controversial issues. Many people try to diminish the importance of the closing verses in chapter nine by asserting such devotion only applies to the elite, to those who follow in the paths of the original disciples, people like John Wesley, Mother Teresa or Billy Graham. However, just as in verse twenty-three, these words of Jesus apply to ALL who want to be children of God.
There are some cultural nuances in Jesus words. When the man said, “first let me return home and bury my father,” he did not mean his father was close to death, perhaps in hospice care. He was saying I have other responsibilities now and someday when I have more free time I’ll follow the Lord.
This passage, when taken together with the first passage in chapter ten, reveals the double sense of urgency Jesus felt as he increased his disciples by six fold to assist him in calling people to become the children of God.
The first urgency is for our individual lives as they are connected to family and friends. Jesus is pointing to the truth that we can never fulfill our responsibilities in the highest and best way possible until we are the children of God. It is only through knowing and applying Godly principles and practices in our lives that we are able live and relate to others as God’s beloved children.
The second urgency is that how we relate to one another in our most basic family and cultural units has huge implications for our communities, even our nation. God is love; Israel, God’s chosen people were characterized by hate. They hated their neighbors, including the Samaritans, which we’ll read about tomorrow. They hated the Romans. They wanted all-out war against the Roman invaders. Jesus knew Israel, unless she turned her heart to God, was heading head-long into destruction by the Roman Empire; hence the urgency in calling people to become the children of God.
When we choose our devotion to God above all else we come to know Jesus as the Prince of Peace and then the circle is complete;
“God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.”
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
15-Jan-12 Luke 10:17-37
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