Luke 9 is packed with movement and miracles: Jesus empowers the twelve, feeds over 5,000, receives Peter’s confession, is transfigured, heals a tormented child, corrects disciples competing for greatness, and is rejected by a city. At the end of this intense chapter, two men approach Jesus wanting to follow Him—sort of.
The first man says he’ll follow, but first needs to go bury his father. Jesus replies, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60).
Taken literally, that sounds harsh. But Jesus raised the dead and wept at Lazarus’s tomb. He honored grief. So His words must be calling us deeper. He’s exposing something in the man’s heart—and in ours.
The second man also wants to follow, but first wants to say goodbye to his family. Jesus answers, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Again, this can’t mean Jesus wants us to abandon family. From the cross He made sure His mother would be cared for (John 19:26–27). Family mattered deeply to Him. So what is He really addressing?
In both cases, the men say, “I will follow You,” and then immediately add, “but first…” Their words sound committed, but their actions leave a back door open. It’s the language of postponement, not surrender.
You’ve probably heard something similar: “I’d love to help, but…” It sounds sincere, yet nothing actually changes.
Here’s a question that challenges me: If these men admired Jesus so much, why didn’t they simply ask Him how to follow and still honor family? Others were doing that. Several of the twelve were married and still cared for their homes while traveling with Jesus. He would never endorse neglect. Their problem wasn’t family; it was double-mindedness.
We can do this too. Our lives get crowded with good things, long “To Do” lists, and even spiritual habits. Jesus is on the list—but not always first. Quietly, our lists start ruling us instead of us ruling them.
Jesus warned about this kind of reversal when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Even holy routines can become rigid masters that keep us from hearing and obeying the Spirit.
Jesus was really busy (just reread Luke 9), yet everything flowed from putting the Father’s will first.
May we do the same.
May everything that needs to die in our lives, stay dead.
And may we keep both hands on the right plow—the one that always leads us closer to Jesus.
God bless you!
Pastor Janice Fareed-Hardy