Luke 14:25-33

Hate? Jesus do you really want us to hate our fathers, mothers, wife, children, sisters and brothers? “Miseo,” is the Greek word used here; if you do not “miseo” your family you cannot be my dieciple. Miseo is a Greek term that has many deep meanings, used here in the 3rd person, present tense, indicative mood, singular and active voice, didn’t know one word could have so many categories did you, well that is Greek for ya, it means: to be disinclined to, disfavor, disregard. So Jesus isn’t saying that one should hate their family, to do that would be to break the fourth commandment of honoring your father and mother. No, Jesus is saying I am first; your spouse or parents if you are unmarried are second, your children, if you have any, are third and so on. Jesus is calling you to put Him first.
Since Jesus is commanding something here we call this part of today’s text the law and remember Luther believed that the law has two functions or uses; Luther’s first use of the law declares that the law exists first and for most to regulate society. But in today’ passage Jesus is using the law in Luther’s second use which comes from Romans 3:20 which states:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
The second use of the law is to afflict the consciences of poor wretched sinners’ by making them aware that they are, in fact, poor wretched sinners therefore unable to live up to the law. Why would Jesus command something from us that He knows that we cannot perform to God’s satisfaction? For the purpose of putting to death our flesh and there by drive us to the realization that we are all in need of a Savior. Luther is quoted as saying, "It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."
This is how law and gospel function in our lives. The law is constantly driving the human soul to the gospel by the afflicting of the human flesh, by requiring of that flesh what it is both unwilling and completely unable to do. This is the tension that we live in; the tension between saint and sinner. The good Rev. Dr. Sundberg told us yesterday, “You cannot have the gospel without law and you cannot have a God of love without a God of wrath.” He taught me that form Luther’s commentary on the Psalms.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Again bear your cross, something that we have the neither ability nor the desire to do. So how does this get done in the life of a disciple of Christ? Through Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In baptism the washing by means of water is not only a symbol of the washing away of our sins, it is also a symbol of our drowning. In baptism we are buried with Him in His death and then raised with Him in His resurrection. At baptism your sinful flesh is put to death and is therefore dead indeed. In your baptism you become raised as a new creation with Christ for eternity. You see your eternal life doesn’t start at your physical death, NO; it starts at your baptism. If you have been baptized you are new creatures, right now, living eternally. However even though your flesh is dead spiritually it is still functioning right here on earth for one purpose, to love and serve your neighbor thus calling God’s elect on to Him. And since you are both new creation and dyeing flesh you need both law and gospel.
Our lives, after baptism, are just one long drawn out crucifixion. Jesus is saying that if you are baptized into the faith and you respond to that baptism by seeking to follow the law all the while knowing that you cannot and are therefore in need of a Savior thus are saved by faith; then you are Christ’s disciple and you are being put to the cross to die daily and you are resurrected to new life daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit are in Christ. Luther said a Christian life is a life of constant repentance.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” I have heard sermon after sermon on this passage that encourages people to actually sit down and figure out the cost of following Christ. How misguided is that. How do you think that I would have responded to Jesus if he would of came to me over 5 years ago and said, “you know Jamie I know that you live in a new home and make good money but I want you to follow me so you are going to lose everything even the house, be poor go back to school for 5 years all the while living on food stamps and the generosity of my body. Then I am going to send you to Southeastern Iowa to a small town where you will completely fall in love with the people and do mission.” And still remain financially dependent upon food stamps and the generosity of My body.” Do you honestly think I would have sat down and figured the cost of following Christ and then, in the lust for money and power said Okay doky JC let’s do it. ABSURD! Jesus doesn’t fully fill you in on the full cost of following Him so you can then make an informed choice. So much for decision theology. This parable about the builder counting the cost is a parable of Christ mission to the cross, FOR YOU!
Jesus is the wise builder who sat down and figured the cost of building His new kingdom by dyeing on the cross for the forgiveness of sins then being raise from the dead thus ending the old covenant and establishing a new one. Jesus is the wise builder, the wise king!! Not you and your decision. If it is up to Jesus’ finished work on the cross and then your decision to follow Him then salvation is Jesus plus! Jesus plus your decision. Then if that is the case you can sit around a try to determine if it is 90% Jesus and 10% you or is it 80% Jesus and 20% you? I will bet my life that it is 100% Jesus and 0% me! And I will find comfort in that reality.
The Holy Spirit engulfs us after our baptism both putting to death our flesh and nurturing and raising our soul to new life. For God’s purpose! Not you benefit! Because God chose you. If it has to do with you and your choice then it isn’t about Jesus. You can’t have both complete despair at the crushing accusation of the law and free choice. It just doesn’t work that way.
So where the gospel message in today’s reading? It is in the fact that Jesus has counted the cost and paid the price, built the tower calculated the war, and He is perfect and has not left the most important decision, the decision to follow Him, up to selfish, rebellious, and sinful human will. It too important of a decision for that.
You are sitting in front of a called and now ordained preacher sent to you for the purpose of declaring to you that you are Christ’s chosen and you can’t screw that up. Here is the gospel promise, here is the message today that will raise you up to new life, here is the proclamation that will give you salific faith.!!! Are you ready? Are you listening? Christ died and rose from the dead so that those whom He foreknew and predestined would have eternal life with Him. You are those foreknown and predestined. How do I know? You have been baptized and now sit in front of a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone for salvation, in response to the calling of Christ bestowed upon you at baptism. You are saved, Christ has chosen you and He sent me here to tell you so. AMEN.