Here's what we can draw from reading both Luke's Gospel and the Fifth Gospel (the geography of salvation) in preparation for Sunday's sermon or teaching:
- the identification as to where Jesus might have been in his journey is the notation of "salt" in verse 34 which hints at a location near Jericho and the Dead Sea
- "great multitudes" tell us that Passover pilgrims have joined Jesus, his disciples and kin on the journey to Jerusalem
- travel in such numbers provided safety and perhaps greater comfort for pilgrims
- the point of "counting the cost" in the two illustrations was grounded in 1st-century society's strong emphasis on honor and shame
- hyperbole was often used by Jesus and other rabbis as in "hate his own father"
- the figure of speech was meant to stress ultimate loyalty and devotion to the rabbi, not disregard or neglect of family
- as some followers of Jesus began to face such choices, the young Christian community served as family
- Jesus himself was at odds with Mary, his brothers and sisters early in his ministry
- Jesus' final reconciliation of his family with his disciples only occurred during his crucifixion when he entrusts Mary's care to John
While this particular passage is exclusive to Luke, the teaching as to the cost of discipleship has fired the imagination of disciples across the centuries. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in particular, taught and lived in the spirit of Luke 14:25-35.
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