Luke 9
As we conclude the first part of our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we arrive at a pivotal moment in chapter 9. Over the past weeks, we’ve explored Jesus’ early ministry, witnessing His radical message of hope, His healing of the sick, and even His power over death. Today’s reading from Luke 9 brings this section of the story to a close by introducing the concept of “costly grace”—the idea that following Jesus, while freely offered, comes with significant demands.
The narrative begins with a recap of Jesus’ ministry, where He commissioned His twelve disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This concept of the Kingdom was central to Jewish expectations at the time, with many envisioning a political and military leader who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel to its former glory. However, Jesus’ message diverged from these expectations. While He did come to establish God’s Kingdom, His approach was one of love and forgiveness, not violent revolution.
As Jesus’ disciples went out, healing and preaching, word spread quickly, even reaching Herod Antipas, who had already executed John the Baptist. The impact of their ministry was so profound that people began to speculate about Jesus’ true identity. Some thought He was a resurrected prophet, while others believed He might be the long-awaited Messiah. Peter, speaking on behalf of the disciples, declared Jesus to be “God’s Messiah,” recognizing Him as the anointed one sent to deliver Israel.
But Jesus’ response to Peter’s declaration was unexpected. Rather than embracing the title and the power that came with it, Jesus warned His disciples of the suffering and sacrifice that lay ahead. He began to prepare them for His impending arrest, torture, and execution—events that would shatter their expectations of what the Messiah would do. Jesus made it clear that following Him was not a path to worldly glory but one marked by sacrifice and self-denial.
This theme of costly grace is further explored in the final segment of today’s reading, where three individuals express a desire to follow Jesus. The first, full of enthusiasm, declares that he will follow Jesus wherever He goes. But Jesus, in response, reminds him that following Him means embracing a life without security or comfort, as He Himself had “no place to lay his head.”
The second person asks to first bury his father before following Jesus—a request that seems reasonable. However, Jesus’ response highlights the urgency of the Kingdom of God. The man’s father was likely still alive, meaning the man wanted to delay his commitment until a more convenient time. Jesus’ point was that following Him requires immediate and total commitment, even above family obligations.
The third person wants to say goodbye to his family before following Jesus, but Jesus warns that anyone who looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. The message is clear: following Jesus demands complete dedication, without hesitation or second thoughts.
These interactions illustrate the cost of discipleship. Following Jesus requires more than just words; it demands action, sacrifice, and a willingness to place Him above all else. It means loving our enemies, forgiving those who wrong us, and living out our faith in ways that may cost us financially, socially, and even relationally. In extreme cases, it may even cost us our lives.
So why would anyone choose to follow Jesus if the cost is so high? The answer lies in the good news of the Gospel. Jesus came not to offer a comfortable life but to rescue us from sin and death. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, He paid the price for our sins, offering us forgiveness and a restored relationship with God. This gift of grace is not something we can earn; it’s given freely out of God’s love for us.
But while grace is free, it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, and it requires us to respond with our own lives. The grace that saves us also calls us to a life of discipleship, where we follow Jesus not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it. When we truly grasp the depth of God’s love and the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf, we realize that there is no cost too great to follow Him. The life He offers—one of true freedom, purpose, and eternal hope—is worth any sacrifice we might make.
