Luke 9:57-62 57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
The invitation to discipleship is open to all, but not everyone will heed the call. This passage builds on the cost of discipleship from earlier in the chapter in verses 23-27. Three people represent three different scenarios about discipleship. The first person wanted to follow Jesus. He probably heard about Jesus and saw the twelve apostles being close to him. Many other disciples, including women, followed along as well. It appears that this person was interested in the glamor and excitement of following a prophet and miracle worker. This person could be called the fickle follower.
Jesus saw through the person’s desire to follow him and responded with an illustration that got the point across without denying the person the opportunity to follow. The point of the illustration is that those who follow Jesus have to pay the cost of being willing to go where he goes, which may mean not having a roof over one’s head. Following Jesus may not always be comfortable. He went to many places where he had to rely on the hospitality of people. The previous story in verses 51-56 showed the possible rejection disciples could face as they followed Jesus’ directions. They might not have a bed to sleep in.
The assumption at the end of this situation is that the person chose not to follow Jesus. He was unwilling to forsake his comforts. He appeared enthusiastic until he realized that the journey would not be easy. Many people become enslaved to the comforts of the world, which offers money, power, pleasures, and knowledge. People bow down and worship things of this world rather than turning to the King of kings and Lord of lords. This person needed to do as Paul wrote in Galatians 5:24: “Those of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Jesus’ response implies that following him means living by faith.
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