1. Neutrality impossible Life’s a journey Opposition is to be expected
Luke 9:49-62
Neutrality impossible
Life’s a journey
Opposition is to be expected
Total commitment
Neutrality impossible... Again!

2. Theme 1 – neutrality impossible
‘Whoever is not against you is for you’ (9:50)
Someone outside the in-group calling on the name of Jesus
Judging them? Jesus seems to be advising inclusivity here
‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Rom 10:13)
Neutrality impossible – but we are not to judge others
However...

3. Compare with ‘ Whoever is not with me is against me’ (11:23)
Choose – with Jesus and all he stands for, or against him
Neutrality impossible: for ourselves, we must choose

4. Luke 9:51 a hinge-point in the gospel
Theme 2 - The journey
Luke 9:51 a hinge-point in the gospel
More than a physical journey to Jerusalem
A journey towards an end
A journey where much of the best is still to come
Best-known parables
Sending out of the disciples, who return in joy despite challenges
Do not worry, but be ready
Lives changed (Eg Zaccheus) and challenged (Eg rich young ruler, Pharisees)
Our journey from now on?
Best is yet to come! Nothing wasted
But...

5. Theme 3 – Expect opposition
How to respond?
Call down fire from heaven? (‘Sons of Thunder’)
Rebuked by Jesus. Just move on. It’s their loss
But are you hearing? There will be opposition
Jesus had to tell his disciples so many times, directly and indirectly, and they still didn’t hear
So is your faith up to the test?
It requires...

6. Theme 4 – Total commitment
‘I will follow wherever you go!’
Jesus didn’t doubt the commitment, but did give a warning challenge
About ‘homelessness’ in this world
‘First let me go and...’
Bury my father... (who may be still alive)
But still a very forceful response from Jesus
Let the (spiritually) dead bury the (physically) dead
Reinforces the primacy of following Jesus over everything else
Not following Jesus = spiritually dead

7. Neutrality impossible
And back to...
Neutrality impossible
Committed, with Jesus in charge of your life
Or uncommitted
Jesus will continue to offer the invitation to ‘follow me’
But will then go on his journey and let you go on yours
On to challenge, adventure, opposition and eternity
Or to reject Jesus as alien to the normal ways of doing things, like Samarian village
Or back to the illusory security of earthly comforts of home, family, property

8. Neutrality impossible Life’s a journey Opposition is to be expected
Only you can know where God wants you to be, and the balance of these things
And not to judge others who claim to be Christians
Neutrality impossible
Life’s a journey
Opposition is to be expected
Total commitment
Neutrality impossible... Again!