Leave The Dead

Today’s message comes from Luke 9 which I encourage you to read on your own time. But you can follow along with Luke 9:51 – 62.

One thing that I’ve always found interesting in the bible is how the elders knew when death was upon them. I believe they were so in tune with their bodies and spirit, that they could somehow sense when death was near and would therefore prepare themselves for it. When they announced that their time of death was near, it wasn’t something instant but could even take up to a couple of years for it to happen. For example, Isaac sent his sons out to prepare a feast before death came to his door. Even more so, the children would often relocate years before their parents died in order to be with them or as it was often referred to "bury their dead." Basically, when it was said of a child that they were going to bury their dead, they were actually going to prepare that loved one to die. Then, after they actually died, the mourning period would typically last 110 days.

So in Luke 9:1-4, Jesus gathers His disciples, gives them all the power and authority and sends them out to preach the gospel. Telling them to bring no food, no clothes, no money and not even a carry-on luggage. Basically bring nothing that would be a distraction or a nuisance to their mission. He makes it clear that “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). He only wants those who will give up everything to follow Him.

In Luke 9 we read that along the way, Jesus ends up in a Samaritan village and meets a man who claims that he will follow Jesus wherever He goes. And he tells Him, I don’t have any mansion here on earth, I don’t even have place to lay my head, are you sure about that?

Then he meets our friend to whom He says “follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  Jesus says to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But you go and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:50-60).

From previously gathered information, we know that his response (read: excuse) for Jesus really means, “I’m not ready yet, give me a couple years, let me get my affairs in order and then I can come and follow you. Maybe then, I would’ve had time to really see if you’re legit.” When Jesus says let the dead bury their own dead He is saying this realizing that the man was not trying to give up everything to follow Jesus. He did not realize that the Son of Man came to save the lives of men and not destroy them (Luke 9:56). The dead are those who are dead in Christ and alive to sin. The ones who haven’t caught the revelation of who Christ is. They are the ones who should be spending months mourning and living in sadness when the saviour of the world is alive and present in their midst.

More often than not, following God means giving up everything. But it also means giving up your pain. Letting the dead bury the dead and gaining life from the One who gives it. When Jesus says the dead should bury the dead, He also means it by saying that those who are dead in spirit shouldn’t stop others from getting life. And to those who have life and know God, they shouldn’t distract themselves with the dead and all the burial rituals that would be taking them away from life with Christ. Let’s not get so distracted by all the stuff around us that we forget that everything else can wait. God will use any measure necessary to grow us, even if it may cause temporary pain (See Job, Judges 3, James 1). No matter what is going on in our lives, we must put it aside for Jesus. Leave the dead and follow the one who gives life and life in abundance. Preach the kingdom of God and don’t ever look back! 

Stay Blessed!!! 

Elena Asks.