“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-27 KJV).
With these verses, the Lord Jesus speaks of hating family and taking up the cross as a message directed at self-righteous, legalistic and religious great multitudes traveling with Him to show them their inability to truly follow Him through human effort. He contrasts this with "grace" messages meant for sinners that recognize their need for a savior and come to rest in His grace by faith. Truly trusting the Lord Jesus is displayed by totally yielding our life to Him above and over everything even our life. True faith is manifest by choosing to follow Him in spite the threat of consequential death. We are reminded: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25 NIV).
We note that our Lord Jesus Christ was speaking to the large, self-righteous multitudes, challenging their superficial commitment. Yes, they go along following Him in His journey towards Jerusalem, but not all for believing. Rather, mostly, they follow Him for curiosity and for finding ways to trap Him.
Speaking of the cost in following Him, the Lord positions these verses within a larger context between "demands" vs. "supply" arguing that these hard sayings were meant to break down self-reliance. In the view of grace over works, this contends against "strenuous effort" approach to following our Lord Jesus Christ, promoting that true discipleship comes from resting in the supply of His grace rather than trying to pay a high cost through working hard in the flesh.
In essence, these verses are meant to show that salvation is by grace and that "taking up the cross" is not about self-mortification, but about relying on the Lord's completed work. This, Apostle Paul affirmed by his testimony, as it is written: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 2:20-21 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
1 comment:
Amen.
Not in our good work which filthy rugs in HIS sight but by HIS grace thru faith in Jesus we are save.
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