Count The Cost
What would you do if someone walked up to you today and said, “I want to start following Jesus!”?
Most of us would practically trip over ourselves in excitement. We’d rush to remove every barrier, soften every word, and smooth the path to make following Jesus as easy and accessible as possible. We'd say, “Just follow the Romans Road, agree with these truths, pray this prayer, and boom you’re in!”
But what does Jesus do when someone says that to Him?
Let’s look together at Luke 9:57–62.
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.” 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.” 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.”
It’s shocking, isn’t it? Three people approach Jesus. Three people seem ready to commit. And what does Jesus do? He appears to talk them out of following Him.
Now, hear me clearly: we absolutely should do everything we can to bring as many people to Christ as the Father is calling. But what we’ve often done in modern evangelicalism is reduce the call of Christ to a formula—an agreement to a few truths, a quick prayer, and a lifetime membership card to heaven.
But Jesus never did that.
Following Jesus is not merely agreeing with Jesus.
Following Jesus means surrendering everything—our wants, our needs, our dreams, our identities, and our plans—for the sake of His will.
He tells us plainly: Count the cost.
1. Following Christ is Uncomfortable
Jesus begins with what seems like an extreme statement:
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
He’s saying, “Even animals have a home. But if you follow Me, you may not.” Jesus, the Lord of Heaven, became homeless on Earth. The Christian life is not cushioned. It is not custom-tailored to your preferences. It is not easy, clean, or always cozy.
As John Stott wrote:
“The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers—the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish… People have covered themselves with a thin veneer of Christianity. Enough to be respectable. Not enough to be uncomfortable… Their religion is a great soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its shape to suit their convenience.”
Let me ask you:
When was the last time you followed Christ into an uncomfortable situation?
When was the last time you obeyed even when it cost you ease or comfort?
2. Following Christ is Ultimate
The second man offers a seemingly reasonable request:
“Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
It’s important to understand that this likely wasn’t about a funeral already underway. In Jewish tradition, this phrase could mean “Let me care for my father until he passes”—perhaps years down the road. Jesus replies with stunning urgency: “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Was Jesus being harsh? No. He was being honest. Following Him is not just important, it’s ultimate.
He must come before even the most sacred duties, before family traditions, before cultural expectations.
We often want Jesus as a life coach or consultant—someone we can loop in when convenient.
But as Tim Keller once said:
“Most people want Jesus as a consultant rather than a King. But He doesn’t come that way.”
So I’m not asking you, “Is Jesus important to you?”
I’m asking: Is He ultimate?
When was the last time you chose Christ over something else?
Not something bad, but something good. Something important. But not ultimate.
3. Following Christ is Urgent
A third person says:
“I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
This echoes the call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19. When Elijah called him, Elisha asked to say goodbye to his family first. Elijah permitted it.
So why doesn’t Jesus?
Because Jesus is greater than Elijah. And His call is more urgent.
This man may have even been trying to use Scripture to justify delaying obedience.
Have you ever done that?
“God wants me to take care of this first.”
“There’s always time to serve later.”
Or the classic: “The Bible says we’ll always have the poor among us…”
But Christ says, “No. The kingdom of God is not something you fit into your schedule. It is the schedule.”
When was the last time you were too busy following Jesus to do anything else?
Not fitting Him into the margins, but giving Him the center?
Following Christ Costs Everything
Let me give you a picture.
Would you pay $5,000 for a cheeseburger?
Of course not.
Would you pay $5,000 for a brand-new 5,000 sq. ft. house?
Absolutely because you know its value.
Would you pay $100 for a candy bar?
No.
But would you pay $100 for a 3-karat diamond ring?
In a heartbeat.
You see, we intuitively understand what something is worth. And yet, when it comes to Jesus, we often try to haggle. We say, “I’ll follow You… as long as I don’t have to give up that relationship.” “I’ll serve You… but don’t touch my time.” “I’ll obey… unless it makes me look weird.”
But Jesus never barters. He never lowers the price.
The cost of following Jesus is your life.
And that’s exactly what He paid for you.
There’s no such thing as a crossless Christianity.
Jesus wasn’t speaking metaphorically when He told His disciples to “take up your cross and follow Me.”
They knew what that meant. It was a death sentence.
And yet, they followed anyway.
Why?
Because He’s worth it.
Always.
Forever.
Most of us would practically trip over ourselves in excitement. We’d rush to remove every barrier, soften every word, and smooth the path to make following Jesus as easy and accessible as possible. We'd say, “Just follow the Romans Road, agree with these truths, pray this prayer, and boom you’re in!”
But what does Jesus do when someone says that to Him?
Let’s look together at Luke 9:57–62.
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.” 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.” 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.”
It’s shocking, isn’t it? Three people approach Jesus. Three people seem ready to commit. And what does Jesus do? He appears to talk them out of following Him.
Now, hear me clearly: we absolutely should do everything we can to bring as many people to Christ as the Father is calling. But what we’ve often done in modern evangelicalism is reduce the call of Christ to a formula—an agreement to a few truths, a quick prayer, and a lifetime membership card to heaven.
But Jesus never did that.
Following Jesus is not merely agreeing with Jesus.
Following Jesus means surrendering everything—our wants, our needs, our dreams, our identities, and our plans—for the sake of His will.
He tells us plainly: Count the cost.
1. Following Christ is Uncomfortable
Jesus begins with what seems like an extreme statement:
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
He’s saying, “Even animals have a home. But if you follow Me, you may not.” Jesus, the Lord of Heaven, became homeless on Earth. The Christian life is not cushioned. It is not custom-tailored to your preferences. It is not easy, clean, or always cozy.
As John Stott wrote:
“The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers—the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish… People have covered themselves with a thin veneer of Christianity. Enough to be respectable. Not enough to be uncomfortable… Their religion is a great soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its shape to suit their convenience.”
Let me ask you:
When was the last time you followed Christ into an uncomfortable situation?
When was the last time you obeyed even when it cost you ease or comfort?
2. Following Christ is Ultimate
The second man offers a seemingly reasonable request:
“Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
It’s important to understand that this likely wasn’t about a funeral already underway. In Jewish tradition, this phrase could mean “Let me care for my father until he passes”—perhaps years down the road. Jesus replies with stunning urgency: “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Was Jesus being harsh? No. He was being honest. Following Him is not just important, it’s ultimate.
He must come before even the most sacred duties, before family traditions, before cultural expectations.
We often want Jesus as a life coach or consultant—someone we can loop in when convenient.
But as Tim Keller once said:
“Most people want Jesus as a consultant rather than a King. But He doesn’t come that way.”
So I’m not asking you, “Is Jesus important to you?”
I’m asking: Is He ultimate?
When was the last time you chose Christ over something else?
Not something bad, but something good. Something important. But not ultimate.
3. Following Christ is Urgent
A third person says:
“I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
This echoes the call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19. When Elijah called him, Elisha asked to say goodbye to his family first. Elijah permitted it.
So why doesn’t Jesus?
Because Jesus is greater than Elijah. And His call is more urgent.
This man may have even been trying to use Scripture to justify delaying obedience.
Have you ever done that?
“God wants me to take care of this first.”
“There’s always time to serve later.”
Or the classic: “The Bible says we’ll always have the poor among us…”
But Christ says, “No. The kingdom of God is not something you fit into your schedule. It is the schedule.”
When was the last time you were too busy following Jesus to do anything else?
Not fitting Him into the margins, but giving Him the center?
Following Christ Costs Everything
Let me give you a picture.
Would you pay $5,000 for a cheeseburger?
Of course not.
Would you pay $5,000 for a brand-new 5,000 sq. ft. house?
Absolutely because you know its value.
Would you pay $100 for a candy bar?
No.
But would you pay $100 for a 3-karat diamond ring?
In a heartbeat.
You see, we intuitively understand what something is worth. And yet, when it comes to Jesus, we often try to haggle. We say, “I’ll follow You… as long as I don’t have to give up that relationship.” “I’ll serve You… but don’t touch my time.” “I’ll obey… unless it makes me look weird.”
But Jesus never barters. He never lowers the price.
The cost of following Jesus is your life.
And that’s exactly what He paid for you.
There’s no such thing as a crossless Christianity.
Jesus wasn’t speaking metaphorically when He told His disciples to “take up your cross and follow Me.”
They knew what that meant. It was a death sentence.
And yet, they followed anyway.
Why?
Because He’s worth it.
Always.
Forever.
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
No Comments