The Path of Disciples
(Matthew 8:18-22)
The Lord had high expectations for those who believed in Him. He thought that anyone who believed in Him should be a committed disciple. However, the people’s attitudes differed from His expectation. Some individuals merely pursued personal honor as they claimed to follow the Lord, while others prioritized their worldly works over their desire to follow Him.
1. The Path to Accompany Hardship
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” The teacher of the Law, who was a respected authority on the Law, called Jesus ‘teacher and expressed his willingness to follow Him. Therefore, the disciples were filled with pride after witnessing this scene. However, the Lord responded, saying, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” To the teacher of the Law, who sought to gain privileges in advance by being closer to the popular leader, the Lord confirmed that the life of disciples would bring suffering and commitment.
2. The Path of Highest Priority
Another disciple said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” This did not mean that his father had passed away, but rather that he could not immediately follow the Lord because he had to assist with the family business until he inherited it from his father. If he were to leave the business behind, his inheritance would be arranged less. Though he desired to become a disciple of the Lord, it was not his highest priority in life. In response, the Lord said, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
3. The Path that Only Those Who Truly Understand Can Walk
When we realize the reality that there was suffering and self-denial behind all the miraculous signs Jesus performed and the attention poured on Him, the attraction to follow Him could completely disappear and our resolutions could accordingly fade away. However, it is the path of committed disciples that we will inevitably follow if we clearly understand who the Lord is, what He has fulfilled for us, and what He will do in the future.
May 7, 2023
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
