Are you sure you want to follow Jesus?
by Pastor Glenn Crouch
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All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips (Luke 4:22).
Read Luke 4:21–30
Throughout this week of devotions, we shall look at what these passages tell us about being a follower of Jesus. Our faith comes down to trusting in Jesus and following where he leads. Scripture is where we discover Jesus and what he wants us to do.
In today’s passage, which picks up after Jesus has preached in his hometown (Nazareth), we see in verse 22 how delighted the people were at his words. This was a fine preacher. Here was someone they could follow. However, they then are reminded who this preacher is – and notice that this is in the same verse (verse 22). Seeing Jesus’ words that follow, the question they propose is akin to ‘How could we possibly follow this man who grew up here – the son of the carpenter, Joseph?’
Following Jesus’ rebuke (verses 23 to 28), they got so mad that they were prepared to kill him (verses 28 and 29)! But it was not the time nor place for that, so Jesus walked away (verse 31).
Did you see how quickly things changed? Are you sure you want to follow this Jesus? He is a divisive person (Luke 12:51–53). As we will see throughout this week, his commands are tough.
As a follower of Jesus, we need to be like Peter after Jesus delivered some hard teachings and many stopped following him: Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God’ (John 6:68,69). We may struggle with who Jesus is – and the challenging things he says – but he is our Lord and our God; where else can we go?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful gift of your dear Son, our Lord Jesus. I thank you for his life, death and resurrection. I thank you for the Scriptures through which I continue to find more about him. Help me, through your Holy Spirit, to be better at following my Lord Jesus. In his name, I pray. Amen.
Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.
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