The Right Question

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. Turning to them, he said, 26 “Whoever comes to me and doesn't hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters—yes, even one's own life—cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever doesn't carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-27)

If you've read this verse before you've probably remarked on how difficult of a saying it is. Jesus, here, is telling would be disciples that they must hate (abandon, cut ties, relinquish direct control) family and their own life. Without doing so a life committed to being a student of Jesus would be impossible for them.

We hear it and wonder, "What does he mean?" Or "What is he asking me to do?" These are the wrong questions. These questions see the statement for what it is - difficult; but it is not. 

The reason we think it is hard is because we consider the statement without considering the one stating. If we considered the one stating the difficulty and confusion would fall away.

So the right question is, "Who is he?"

25 Large crowds were traveling with God. Turning to them, he said, 26 “Whoever comes to me and doesn't hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters—yes, even one's own life—cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever doesn't carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 

Now when God makes that request it doesn't seem difficult. In fact anything less wouldn't seem very sensible, would it? Without answering the "who" question, we will never get past the difficulty of it all, and we will never experience this phrase (and many more) as life giving.