No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And 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." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

- Luke 9:51-62

On Saturday, we read of Jesus healing a little child (through exorcism) that His disciples could not heal. He then warned His disciples once again what is to come to Him in Jerusalem. Jesus taught His disciples about the necessary humility in their work in the kingdom, that even the little children are great who are of this kingdom - "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great." He further added to the lessons of humility when He was asked by John about others they saw casting out demons in Jesus' name, who were not a part of their own group. Jesus said, ""Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. My study bible notes, "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem marks a turning point in Jesus' life and ministry. From this point in the Gospel, Jerusalem and the Passion is the next step of Jesus' journey. The Greek verb received up describes the Ascension, the ultimate goal of His Passion and Resurrection." To set one's face toward something is to be resolved, and clearly Jesus is now heading toward Jerusalem and all that He will undergo there (as He has now repeatedly warned His disciples). To "set one's face" is an interesting expression; it occurs also in the Old Testament in words of prophecy (Isaiah 50:7). But the word for "face" (prosopon/προσωπον) is also significant in other ways in this context. It can also mean "Person" in the sense of one's entire personhood, the true image of the self. Therefore, I presume, we are to understand this word applies to all of Jesus' personhood - both divine and human, in the fullness of His true identity. This is His mission being fulfilled - as He discussed His "exodus" with Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration. The "face" as indicator of personhood or persona is an important spiritual understanding in these texts: just as Caesar's face is imprinted on a coin, so all set with the seal of Christ belong to Christ, and act "in His name" (as are the messengers he sends before His face). The word for "messengers" here is angelous/αγγελους - the same as that for "angels," giving us an allusion to a double picture of sovereignty of this kingdom and His "face."

And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And they went to another village. My study bible notes that, "Jesus does not exclude the Samaritans (v. 52) from salvation, even though this village refuses to receive Him (v. 53). Other Samaritans welcome Him (John 4)." (See the readings referred to in John 4 here and here.)

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." Jesus has just finished (in Saturday's reading) teaching His disciples about humility. This is very soon (in Luke's Gospel) after the apostles have returned successfully from their first mission, in which Jesus' power was invested in them and used by them to heal and to preach, and to cast out demons. But shortly after this return, they have been taught several lessons about their use of that power: that they can go further, that He will give up His life and they must be prepared to give up their worldly aspirations and needs as His followers, that they need more faith, more humility - to recognize that even a child is great in this kingdom, and that others who work in His name should also be allowed to do so. When Jesus tells them here that "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of," He is once again speaking about His kingdom and this sovereignty of His face, His name. They are "of a spirit" that is to save, not to destroy. They still need to learn about this power which He shares with them.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And 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." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." And here we have further lessons on discipleship - not only for Jesus' immediate disciples, but for those others who come to Him and would follow and be a part of this mission, this kingdom. My study bible has a lengthy note which I will repeat here: "I will follow You: There is a cost to discipleship. Jesus talks of three such costs: (1) Provision for personal security does not mix with true discipleship. The disciple will be no more secure than the Teacher. If the Teacher has nowhere to lay His head (v. 58), neither will the disciple. (2) Discipleship demands singular commitment to the Kingdom of God. A disciple must be willing to let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead (v. 60). (3) Discipleship does not look back to reconsider, or operate by delayed response. It means taking hold of the commission given by Christ and moving forward."

Jesus has His face set for Jerusalem - and what is to come, His "exodus." (See the discussion of this word at His Transfiguration.) He will endure suffering and death, a humiliating and excruciating death by crucifixion, reserved for the greatest criminals. He risks all -- all that He has invested in those whom He loves and has gathered to Himself as disciples. What will become of them, His flock? Yet He has "set His face" and set His own "hand to the plow." He is working for something greater than Himself, in the name of the Father. He is on a mission to which He is singularly dedicated, and He asks no more of us who would follow Him than He is prepared to give Himself. This is not a sovereign ruler of a kingdom that demands slavery in the sense that we pay for Him - no, this is a ruler who shares everything with us, and sets down His life by example. We are family, with Him. This kingdom is linked by love. And He is here to save and not destroy men's lives: He is a ruler of compassion and mercy and justice, and so it must be with His followers as well. How will you set your hand to this plow? What do you do to "set your face" with His? Can you let the dead bury the dead? What will you forgo for this true kingdom of love and salvation? What does discipleship call you to at this time in your life?