This text begins and ends with an "all or nothing" injunction about following Jesus, with two practical illustrations in between.
Given that at this point in his ministry, Jesus is beginning to sense the "all" that lies ahead for him personally (betrayal and denial by his closest companions, followed by false arrest, torture, and brutal execution), perhaps it is no wonder that his response to the large crowds is to challenge any hopes they may have for an easy entry to the messianic age. The way ahead will be hard, not magical.
The word "hate" (as used in the NRSV) is clearly being used in an exaggerated sense and not literally. The Good News Bible's "love me more" is better, but doesn't capture
the sense of total commitment that the underlying Greek is saying.
These are hard sayings for us who are also trying to honour commitments we have also made to spouses, children, parents and bankers. We are in no position to literally follow the itinerant Jesus, who, as far as we know, had no property of his own, no home, no wife, no children, no job.
This saying is also hard because we live in a culture and climate when we are bombarded with goods and promises for wonderful benefits with no mention of - much less any expectation of - paying a cost for them. We are spending and living as though there is no cost, no downside, no long-term consequences.
So at a minimum these sayings of Jesus ought to draw us up short. Cause us to reflect how much the choices we have already made are costing us - and our planet; and to consider whether the costs of following Jesus might be a better investment. Indeed, the examples Jesus gives seem to invite this sort of sober, practical assessment. Am I really willing to re-assess and change my commitments and priorities so that my commitment to following the way of Jesus is actually reflected in my marriage, parenting, working, socializing?
That's a big question. For most of those who were with Jesus that day the answer was, "No." I wonder what our churches would be like if everyone sat down and made a sober re-assessment of what it takes - and what they are willing to give - in order to follow the way of Jesus?
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