Mission Impossible
We have been journeying through Luke’s Gospel. Chapters 3-8 are “miracle heavy.” People have been flocking to Jesus to hear his preaching, to receiving his healing touch, to be set free! However, in Luke 9 there is a shift—Jesus now invites his disciples to join the mission. It begins this way …
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Luke 9:1-2, ESV)
That is quite a mission! Up until this point in the story, Jesus has demonstrated power over the supernatural and, the text tells us, people are amazed and astonished. Now, Jesus calls his closest followers together, the people he has been training, and he delegates his authority to them. “Now … it’s your turn.” He is sending his disciples to proclaim the reign and power of God to the people of Israel!
How would you feel about his mission? What if Jesus showed up today and said … “Now … you do it!” How would you respond? You might say, “Jesus, that mission seems … IMPOSSIBLE!”
An Anti-Christian Age
This “seemingly” impossible mission is the tension Luke raises in chapter 9. Following Jesus is a daily choice. Following Jesus is costly. Following Jesus is scary. Why? Because our world feels “Anti-Christian.” The hostility we feel is captured in Luke 9:5-6
And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:5-6, ESV)
Notice, there is an assumption that, in some places, we will not be received as we proclaim the kingdom! If you read the Gospels and if you read Acts, you will see there were many people who wanted nothing to do with Jesus. The Disciples were chased out of towns; some got stoned; it was costly! Still, they went.
In fact, I would say, the disciples show us what it looks like to “Follow Jesus in an Anti-Christian Age.” Now, the truth is being a Christian has always been hard. We have an enemy who prowls around like a lion as he attempts to garner more recruits. Church history tells us persecution is the norm, not the anomaly. However, the anti-Christian sentiment in America, at least cultural speaking, is a newer phenomenon. This is what author Aaron Renn calls, The Negative World. He writes this: “The negative world is more than just a phase in recent American history; it represents something fundamentally new. For the first time in the four-hundred-year history of this country, society now disfavors Christianity.” While it’s not new in world history—it is new in America.
A Core Conviction
How do you follow Jesus in an anti-Christian age? First, you need a core conviction. Let’s get clear on the definition of a conviction: it is a strong persuasion of belief. It’s not just a thought, or a notion, or something you can live without. No! It is something that will drive you to jump off a cliff (not literally)! When I talk about a core conviction, it is a belief deep in your soul that you hold so strongly—nothing will cause you to let go of it. Following Jesus requires a core conviction of his IDENTITY and MISSION. Look at the question Jesus asks the disciples in v. 20:
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20, ESV)
If you are going to tell people about Jesus—you must have a core conviction about his identity.
A Costly Commitment
Second, you have to count the cost. Jesus links the cost to his previous words about his mission. He then outlines some conditions for discipleship.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23, ESV)
I want you to read that verse again and ask yourself—what does that mean? What does it mean for you? Jesus is portraying this vivid, shocking and horrifying image. Remember, we take for granted, 2000 years later that Roman Crucifixion is in the history books. Rhe disciples were living it. Crucifixions happened on a regular basis—they were gruesome and horrific. So put yourself in their shoes.
This image was taken from the Roman custom whereby a condemned person would carry their crossbar to the site of their execution. It was a public processional—literally people walking their funeral. What Jesus is implying here is this: “the person carrying their cross knows their life in this world is finished (ZECNT, 390).” If I take up my cross and follow Jesus there is no turning back, as the song says. Jesus just predicted his death and he is telling his disciples, if you want to follow me … that is the road.
I want you to notice a key point: denying yourself is more than just putting aside worldly pleasures. You might say, “I am going to deny myself coffee, or chocolate, or burgers … for a time.” However, this verse is talking about disowning yourself—it is turning from the idolatry of self-centeredness.
The Ears of A Child
Finally, you need the ears of a child. In Luke 9:44 Jesus says this:
Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” (Luke 9:44, ESV)
I love that image, “let these words sink into your ears …” I would add, “let them sink all the way down to your hearts.” Why does Jesus say this? I think Jesus is telling them, and us, that life is not always celebratory. You can’t stay on the mountain, you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Suffering is coming. It is part of the death to life mission.
Are Jesus words sinking into your ear? Or is there wax build up? My wife is a nurse, so I know all about wax build up in the ears. Sometimes it clogs our hearing and you have to clean it out! Jesus is saying something crucial here. He is going to die … for us. When he says, “take up your cross,” he is inviting us to suffer for the mission as well. Are we ready? Are his words sinking in our ears and taking root in your heart? Because the disciples don’t get it. Their ears are clogged because the next moment the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest! Picture this scene. They are all celebrating—they are all talking about how great Jesus is and what he did. Then, they are arguing about, I think, who Jesus likes and will use the most. Peter says to John—“Anything you can do I can do better!” John replies, “I can do anything better than you …” back and forth. Then we read this …
But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:47-48, ESV)
First ears … now the child. What is Jesus doing? In the ancient world, children had no power, status or rights. They were insignificant. Many children died in infancy. It was a child in the previous scene who was tormented by a demon. Jesus is not using the child as an exemplar, but he is teaching the disciples a lesson on true greatness. And he turns their worldview upside down!
On the mountain, God himself told the disciples about Jesus, “This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to him! (9:35)” Jesus speaks and tells them to let his words sink in their ears. Then he brings out a child and says this: “the least among you is the greatest.” Stop arguing about who is the best!
The New Exodus
I want to take you to the mountain. As Peter and John and James were sleeping, Moses and Elijah appear with this flash of light. The disciples watch as they are talking to Jesus. Look what they were saying in v. 31:
And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31, ESV)
Moses, Elijah and Jesus … wow! What a scene. And what are they talking about? They are talking about the mission. Jesus is about leave for Jerusalem, where he will deny himself, take up his cross and lose his life.
Luke gives us a clue about the significance of Jesus mission. I want you to circle that word “DEPARTURE.” Literally, in the Greek it can be translated as “Exodus.” What an image! In the Old Testament, the Exodus was the story of God delivering his people out of slavery in Egypt, by grace, parting the Red Sea, and defeating their enemies. Now, Luke is pointing us toward the NEW EXODUS, the ultimate once for all EXODUS that Jesus is about to accomplish.
In Exodus, the blood of the Passover lamb was painted on the door of the people of God. Now, the blood of the Lamb of God is painted on the hearts of every one of his followers. Jesus is about to begin a journey to Jerusalem that will cost him his life so that we can be saved! That is the mission! That is COSTLY GRACE! The biggest turning point in Luke’s Gospel is 9:51 when we read this …
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51, ESV)
To Jerusalem … where he would die. To Jerusalem … the new exodus begins. Jesus is laser focused on the cross. The rest of Luke’s Gospel is taking us to the cross. We may live in an anti-Christian age, but the blood of the lamb still runs red to cleanse the hearts of his people. The blood of the lamb is still effectual for all who call on his name. And the mission the Father sent the Son to accomplish is now lived out through his church as we take up our cross and follow him.
