Over the past 7 sessions we have learned a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven and what it is like.  We grasp the reality of the challenges and also the blessings. The truth that needs to be realized is that there was not only a sacrifice by God for us, but a cost that we must also pay. It is not a direct financial payment that we set up installment payments and have a vision of one day getting paid off and owning. 

In this weeks lesson from Jesus he explains the situation and necessary action that needs to be taken.

The Cost of Being a Disciple
²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” – Luke 14:25-35 NIV

What is the cost of being a member of the Kingdom of Heaven? How does it cost us in terms of our resources and relationships?

What is the value of the Kingdom of Heaven in comparison to everything else?

Counting the cost of following Jesus, or truly just being a disciple of Jesus, is vital if we declare we are Christians. One of the most passionate followers of Jesus was Paul. We can some times say that it would be easy to be a follower of Christ if Jesus was right here with us and teaching us like he did the first 12. History has indicated that Paul is probably our best example of a follower of Jesus, and like us, he did not have Jesus to sit with him and coach him. He relied directly on God and the Holy Spirit to reveal to him what needed attention, what actions to take and how to follow in Christ’s footsteps. We have that same opportunity. Paul describes what it is to be a follower in 1 Corinthians.

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. – 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 NIV

What cost has Jesus paid for us to be members of the Kingdom of God?

Now let’s compare those thoughts with Luke 23:26-24:12

The Crucifixion of Jesus
²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ Then“ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 
³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ^t And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus
⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” ^j When he had said this, he breathed his last.

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus
⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Jesus Has Risen
¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. – Luke 23:26-24:12

There are many live and believe that the idea of us getting to heaven is a one way thing. That Jesus did it all for us, and they now have a free ride into heaven, some fire insurance.  There is a privilege and a right that they have over others because they are forgiven and loved.  The basics of those thoughts are true, but it is a two-way relationship. There is our part in the relationship that we cannot overlook.

The Cost of Following Jesus
⁵⁷As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” ⁵⁹He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” ⁶⁰But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” ⁶²But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:57-62 NIV.

There are some very serious consequences for those that decide to not count the cost and take action for Jesus. Let’s compare three different sections of scripture:

³⁴“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? ³⁵Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” – Luke 14:34-35 NIV

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. – Matthew 5:13 NIV

⁴⁹“For everyone will be tested with fire. ⁵⁰Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” – Mark 9:49-50 NIV

What happens if someone does not count the cost and take action for Jesus? What are they like?

In contrast, will more of the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven be revealed to those who sacrifice more for Jesus – those who count the cost and deem it worthwhile?

Conclusion

The parables we’ve examined are organic and practical, with imagery from agricultural and finance. But they signify the great mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven. They reveal to us what it’s like for God’s presence to reclaim the brokenness of our world. For these reasons, Jesus ultimately asks us to count the cost and observe God’s word. Our sins have been forgiven and w can celebrate with Jesus the bridegroom. And why wouldn’t we? Let’s live like we’re part of the God’s Kingdom.

The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 14:25–35). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.