It wasn't easy to follow Jesus. His disciples were often perplexed and bewildered and left to wonder, being either rendered speechless or putting their foot in their mouth - a least Peter did.
When they got sent out to preach and heal they couldn't take extra baggage. They had to be minimalists. When Jesus asks them to feed the crowd of 5000 men - wherever were they to get all that food!? They must have been astonished at the 12 baskets of left overs...
When Jesus foretells His death they were commanded not to tell this to anyone. And they were afraid to ask more. They just couldn't understand!
The picture Jesus painted for them of taking up the cross and following Him required sacrifice - the giving up of comforts and such. They were to
"lose their life for [His] sake" (vs 24).It was a lot to take in.
Peter puts his foot in his mouth on the Mount of Transfiguration and a voice said,
"This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to Him!"That must have been a bit creepy especially after the appearance of Moses and Elijah. Thrilling at first but they disappear and there's Jesus standing alone and then the voice. Again Peter, James and John must keep this secret until much later.
The disciples had been going town to town and village to village preaching and healing, and casting out demons. Yet, here was a 'stubborn case'. The unclean spirit just would not come out of the lad.
Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration and Jesus with one commanding rebuke, makes the demon leave the boy. Astonishment for all present ensued.
In another instance, to John, it felt like someone was casting out demons without being authorized by Jesus to do so. Maybe he was jealous for Jesus (or himself). They must have been scratching their heads when Jesus told him not to stop the person. Jessus' name was still getting the credit.
They get rebuked again when they want to call down fire from heaven to consume the people who did not welcome Jesus. Sometimes we want to 'defend and protect' Jesus but there seems to be a time and place for this. He is the one to avenge. Not us. I think Jesus was teaching them it was the dawn of the day of grace and no longer the "eye for an eye" era.
Mission was just plain out of the comfort zone. Jesus had nowhere to lay His head. He'd said farewell to those at home. He was purposeful and commited to the task His Father had sent Him to accomplish.
There could be no wishy-washyness for the life of a Jesus follower. Jesus told a potential follower,
"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 ESV).
Yet the blessings of storing up treasure in Heaven, of being with Jesus in close friendship must have created a new life for all those early disciples. Their life was never the same and they eventually took on that same deep dedication to their calling. They definitely became 'fit'.
We can too. Our life is in the Lord and we can follow Him and have that same friendship with Him. Just expect the unexpected. There will be surprize, astonishment, perplexity and bewilderment at all the wonderful works and goodness of the Lord as He leads us all the way Home.
Let's follow Jesus.
~ ERC August 2025 ~
Based on Luke 9, especially vs 62 ESV.
Sing, Jesus I My Cross Have Taken, along with Thankful Barabbas.
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