II. What it means to those
who have obeyed the gospel:
The Lord has commanded
his followers to “proclaim the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15b), the aim
of which is to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19a).1 But
what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Before Luke included accounts of
the Great Commission in his two-volume work (Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8), he
recorded these words spoken by Jesus: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate
his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters; yes, and also his
own life, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and come
after me cannot be my disciple …. every one of you who does not give up all
that he possesses, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-33, emp. added KLM).
These statements admittedly
sound rather extreme, but let’s put them in perspective. The term translated
“hate” (v. 26) is the Greek miséō, which essentially
means to “esteem less” but is magnified to stress the absolute importance of
one’s priorities.2 Jesus must take precedence over the closest of
human relationships. Otherwise, my family cannot save me and I would be unable
to direct them to God. But if Jesus is at the top of my priority list, not only
will I be saved and in a position to help my family go to heaven, I will be a
much better son, spouse, parent, and sibling.
The idea of a “cross” (v. 27) had
absolutely no religious connotation at this time. Although Jesus had informed
his disciples that he would be “killed” (Matt. 16:21), he had not yet specified
the manner of his death,3 so what was their frame of reference?
Long before the words in question were spoken, Palestinian Jews were all
too familiar with the cross as an instrument of public execution.4 The
Romans in particular had perfected this form of capital punishment as a means
of humiliation and torture and a deterrent to insurrection. The condemned was
forced to carry the implement upon which he would die to the place of execution,
and seeing that an entire Roman cross weighed over 135 kg (300 lb.), it was the
crossbeam, weighing approximately 35-60 kg (75-125 lb.), that was typically
carried. Jesus seems to be implying that discipleship is anything but easy, and
a lifelong commitment must be made as one dies to self.5
The “counting the cost” illustrations that
follow (vv. 28-32) indicate that this lofty decision is to be made before even
starting the journey. We do a grave disservice to prospective converts when we
fail to inform them of what the Lord expects after baptism and the gravity of
the commitment they are being called to make.
The third exhortation, about giving up all
that one possesses, is again a matter of priorities. The Lord does not expect
his followers to physically impoverish themselves. Otherwise, how could we help
the needy (Rom. 15:26), support ministers of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:14), give to
the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 16:1-2), and provide for our families (1 Tim. 5:8)? The
fundamental requisite, then, is an inner
detachment from earthly ties. Absolute loyalty to Jesus as Lord ought to
surpass one’s connection to all worldly possessions.6
Continued Obedience
The Lord has instructed that we are to
“make disciples of all nations” by the twofold process of (a) “baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and (b) “teaching
them to observe all things I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19). One cannot be a
disciple of Jesus without baptism, and one cannot be a disciple of Jesus
without having been sufficiently taught. So what is expected after baptism? Does
obedience to the gospel end?
Our initial response is to “hear” (listen
to, understand, heed) the gospel message, but we must continue hearing,
receptively and responsively (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 4:21, 29; Phil. 4:9; Rev. 2:7,
11, 17, 29). We are to believe the gospel message, and keep on believing while
increasing in faith (Rom. 3:22; 4:11, 24; 10:4; 2 Pet. 1:5-7). We are to repent
of sinful attitudes and behaviors, but we can’t stop repenting (Acts 8:22; Rom.
6:1-18; 2 Cor. 7:9-10). We must confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and
keep on confessing (Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 9:13; Heb. 4:14; 10:23). Baptism for
the forgiveness of past sins (Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; 22:16) is the one act of
obedience that doesn’t continue, because it is the inaugural step that places
us in Christ and his emblematic body, the church, the community of the saved
(Acts 2:41-47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). We are then raised
to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:11-13; 3:1-3) by remaining faithful
(Acts 2:42; 14:22) as active members of Christ’s body (Rom. 12:3-13; 1 Cor.
12:12-27), even unto death (Rev. 2:10).
Conclusion
What does it mean to obey the gospel? To
those who have not yet obeyed, it means to welcome God’s word with open,
receptive, truth-seeking hearts and eagerly respond to its directives with
obedient faith. To those who have already obeyed the gospel, it means to be
faithful to the lifelong commitment made to the Lord and keep on obeying until
death.
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 Unless
otherwise noted, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
2 In Romans 9:13 Paul quotes
Malachi 1:2-3, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Here the concepts
of “love” and “hate” are not emotional expressions (as per modern westernized
concepts) but are demonstrated actions (cf. Dan. 9:4; John 14:15; Rom. 5:8;
etc.). In the 5th-century BC context of Malachi, “Jacob” represents the
descendants of Jacob/Israel (1:1, 5) and “Esau” stands for Esau’s descendants,
the people of Edom (1:4). The Israelites were being reminded of their special
role in God’s scheme (“Jacob I have loved”), despite the persistent abuse of
their privileged status, while the defiant Edomites were destined for
destruction (“Esau I have hated”).
3 It was not until the
following year that Jesus would reveal his impending death by way of
crucifixion (Matt. 20:19; 26:2).
4
As far back as the second century BC, Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes
crucified Jews who resisted his oppressive decrees (see Josephus Ant. 12.5.4).
5 See “Cross Bearing: the Cost
of Discipleship,” <Link>.
6 See
“Leaving All to Follow Jesus,”
<Link>.
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