(a) What demands did Jesus make of the prospective disciples he encountered? (b) Explain any one of the demands made of them by Jesus.

Answer Details

(a) Demands Jesus made of prospective disciples (Luke 9:57-62; Matthew 8:19-22)

As Jesus and His disciples were travelling along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” By this, Jesus demanded that anyone who wished to follow Him must be prepared for hardship, insecurity, sacrifice and self-denial.

Jesus said to another man, “Follow me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus answered, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Jesus therefore demanded that commitment to Him and the proclamation of God’s kingdom must take priority over family, social and earthly obligations.

Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus told him, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus demanded wholehearted, immediate and undivided loyalty from His disciples. A follower must not hesitate, look back or allow attachment to the former life to prevent commitment to the kingdom.

(b) Explanation of one demand

Jesus’ statement that “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” shows that discipleship is not a life of comfort, pleasure or material gain. The man who promised to follow Jesus wherever He went may have expected honour, wealth and satisfaction. Jesus made him understand that He Himself had no permanent home or earthly comfort.

Therefore, anyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus must be ready to sacrifice comfort, possessions, security and personal convenience for the sake of the gospel. Such a person must be prepared to endure hardship and suffering rather than seek an easy and pleasurable life. True discipleship requires total physical and spiritual commitment to Christ.