(19) Why did the teacher of the law want to follow
Jesus? He was impressed with Jesus, His authoritative teaching, and His power to
heal. It is easy to be impressed by Jesus. Even unbelievers are still impressed by His
words, and merely call Him a "great teacher."
(20) What did Jesus mean by "foxes have holes... no place to lay His
head"? Following Jesus may mean enduring times of great discomfort, just as
He did. This is what separates the men from the boys, and the women from the girls.
Hardship. It is as if Jesus is saymg to us, "You say you follow me. Will you still
follow me even in times of financial hardship, marital breakdown, failure, or
disappointment?"
(20) What does "Son of Man" mean? Jesus often used this name
for Himself, taking it from Daniel 7:13-14. ln those verses, the "Son of Man" is
the one whom Daniel earlier prophesied, who would come with authority and power as the
great ruler of the Kingdom of God.
(22) Wasn't Jesus being selfish and harsh by saying "Follow me, let the dead
bury their own dead"? No. Jesus is not faulting the man for honoring his
parents. Jesus faulted him for putting his parents above Him. The Bible, especially the
Old Testament, is clear about honoring the dead with a proper burial, and about honoring
parents. Therefore, Jesus is NOT saying that we must forsake our parents.
Rather, Jesus calls us to obey Him above all other authorities. Although God's design is
that all children respect, honor, and obey their parents, yet there may be times when a
parent is urging you to sin. If such is the case, you must follow Jesus first. Remember,
we are called to honor our parents IN ThE LORD, not above the Lord. Does your family help,
or hinder, your obedience to Christ?
(23) Why did Jesus cross the Sea of Galilee? To test His disciples'
committment in following Jesus.
(26) Why did Jesus fault His disciples for crying out to Him for help during the
storm? Because the disciples were filled with panic and fear. The problem was not
that they cried to the Lord. But that they cried in a state of panic, thus revealing their
lack of faith. Do you pray consistently and calmly, or do you pray with panic and doubt,
coming to Jesus only as a "last resort"?
(26) What does it mean that He "rebuked the wind and waves"?
Jesus spoke a word, such as "Stop, winds. Stop, waves," and the storm
immediately grew calm. This is a testimony of Jesus' authority. In other words, all He
needs to do is speak a word, and even the forces of nature obey Him.
Key Memory Verse
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20)
Insights
Jesus demands committment, even through hard times.
Jesus demands committment, even if it means opposing customs, human traditions, and human authority at times.
Jesus demands true committment, marked by calmness, peacefulness, and patience, not panic.
The Bottom Line
Commit yourself to Jesus. You can trust Him. Not only can
He heal, calm a storm, and perform miracles, but more importantly, He suffered and died on
the cross to take the punishment that we deserved. By this act, He earned for us the peace
with God that we were incapable of earning ourselves. Commit yourself to Jesus, for He
committed Himself to all His children.