No pain, no gain

Nothing worth having comes easily. We all know the truth in that, don’t we? No pain, no gain and all that. We have to put the effort in to get something out. Achieving something takes sacrifice.

When I reflect on this, I think of the Great North Run. Completing the Great North Run in 2014 without stopping to walk at all was one of the greatest personal achievements of my life. I know that for some people, the GNR is no big deal. They do it every year with very little training in much faster times than I achieved. But before the start of that year, I had never run before. I didn’t believe I could run. For those first few runs, I cried each time. I set a strict rota for nine months of training and never missed a single day. It took a huge amount of effort and determination – and I did it! It was my personal Everest. The personal cost was massive, but completely worth it.

Before we start out on everything, if we’re sensible, we sit back and count the cost for us and for our families before jumping right in. I’m not great at this. I’m one of life’s enthusiasts who jumps first and then tries to make it all fit! I’m learning. That cost includes money of course, but also time and other factors too.

During his conversations during his time here on earth, Jesus reflects on how important it is to really consider the cost of following him before jumping in with rash declarations of commitment.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.  Luke 14:28-33

I’ve noticed now that some places advertising fitness classes and wellbeing retreats now call this kind of commitment an investment rather than a cost. The initial outlay may look like a cost and you may feel you cannot find the time, but it’s an investment in your long term wellbeing. I mention that because that works well for the times when Jesus spells out the cost of following him.

He’s been describing this wonderful upside kingdom that God is establishing here on earth that will last into eternity. It’s how God always intended human beings to live. It’s how creation started out at the beginning of time before everything started going pear-shaped and humans decided they could go it alone and they knew best – and then proved for generations that they hadn’t got a clue what they were talking about! What Jesus is talking about is attractive. He’s drawing a crowd. Everyone wants to hear this revolutionary message of how the first will be last and the last will be first (well, everyone who doesn’t already consider themselves the first, obviously!). Jesus is healing and feeding and saying that people’s sins are forgiven – what’s not to love?

However, there’s a cost to being a part of all this. The young man in What’s the thing that’s holding you back? from yesterday knew the reality of this. He wasn’t willing (at least not yet – we don’t know what happened to him going forward) to give up all that he had worked for to risk everything on this new preacher guy.

It’s not like Jesus is trying to hoodwink anyone into signing up for this new way of life. He’s not making out it’s all sweetness and light just to get people to sign on the dotted line. There’s no catch, no hidden clauses, no nasty surprises. He spells out the cost of following him very clearly.

He wants to check that when people declare that they’ll follow him wherever he goes, that they know what they’re letting themselves in for.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’

But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’

Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’  Luke 9:57-62

There’s an almost identical account in Matthew 8:18-22.

Sacrifices will have to be made. Are you really prepared for that? You’ll have to make some difficult decisions. Life won’t be comfortable. I can promise you that.

Jesus knows the reality of this for himself. He hasn’t been able to live a regular life. He’s had to give up any hopes of the conventional wife and home and profession and kids. He’s been hounded out of town and questioned by those who want to bring him down and expose him as a fraud (or worse). He’s travelled around, not knowing where and when he is going to sleep and eat. He has nothing but the clothes on his back – no possessions, no money, no security. He’s had to detach himself from his parents and siblings to be able to carry out the role he was sent by God to fulfil.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’

He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’  Matthew 12:46-50

This short exchange is recorded also in Mark 3:31-35 and Luke 8:19-21.

That’s got to hurt. Not only for his family members, but for Jesus also. Jesus isn’t asking anything from any of his followers that he has not gone through – or is about to go through – himself.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  Luke 14:26-27

This is tough teaching. It’s a big ask. There are plenty of people who walk away, people for whom the cost of following Jesus is just too great.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’  John 6:66-69

Those that choose to stay stay because they are utterly convinced that following Jesus is worth the cost. Simon Peter’s expressing it here.

Where else would we go? You’re the real deal. 

We believe. We know.

Whatever the cost, we’re right behind you.

It’s a huge challenge, isn’t it? How can you possibly know what you’re signing up for? How can you be sure that you’re prepared, that you have what it takes, that you can stay the course?

Because in the end, it isn’t about you, it’s about the one that you’re choosing to follow, that’s how. It’s about having the faith to follow, trusting that he will have your back. About trusting that whatever happens, he will always be there. That whatever the cost, he will never leave you or forsake you.

I have no idea what is ahead for me or for you. I can’t give you any reassurances. I just know that Jesus’ revolutionary way of living and loving is the best way.

Where else would I go? Who else would I follow?