If Jesus was looking to recruit disciples, this was not the way to do it. Instead of talking about the glories of being a disciple, he laid out the hardship pure and simple.
1) The hardship of having no home
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
A mental and emotional need of humans is to have a stable, safe and secure place to stay. A place to call “home” where one can rest and refresh. But for a disciple of Jesus? That may or may not happen.
Jesus did not have a home. He had to stay with friends and followers. Being a follower of Jesus is very unstable. Nor does it look “normal” to the rest of the world.
2) Follow Jesus is not about waiting until the perfect timing.
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Obviously the man’s father was not dead and waiting for a funeral. Otherwise he wouldn’t be out and about and with Jesus.
What he was saying was he wanted to wait until the time was right. After his parents had passed away, then maybe he would consider following Jesus.
So was Jesus being cruel here? Especially when he says “leave the dead to bury their own dead”?
The Jews at times used the word “dead” mean as in it has no power over something or influence. And it seems like Jesus is saying to not let those who do not have in mind the matters of the kingdom take care of themselves.
This man was wanting to wait until everything was lined up and perhaps keep his father happy. But Jesus is saying that there is an urgency. Furthermore those who wait and get caught up in the affairs of the world tend never to act. They get comfortable with money and stability and lifestyle.
3) Let me first say Good-Bye to my family
Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The man just wants to say goodbye to his family. What’s wrong with that? Even the prophets got to do that.
Perhaps the man was wanting to go back to his family and consult with them. Or even more likely had had doubts that were causing him to waver instead of committing.
Either way Jesus calls him to a full commitment, not wavering, but setting his face forward to be a disciple.
Jesus isn’t looking for soft-disciples who change like the shifting shadows. There is great sacrifice in following Jesus. There may or may not be a place to call home, family might disagree, and it takes a resolute commitment.
When we follow Jesus, we need to be all in. Whatever that looks like for his call for us.