Count the Cost

“And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.” (Luke 23:27)

I’ve always pictured the whole of Jerusalem railing Jesus along as He carried the cross, but Luke describes a great company of people, men and women, a throng, a multitude which bewailed and lamented Him. I don’t think any of them were the disciples.  Mark writes that they all “forsook him, and fled.” (Mark 14:50) They were too afraid to show their faces and to be arrested and crucified with Jesus. No, these were people from the crowds that had listened to Him, who had traveled far to hear Him. “And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.” (Matthew 27:55-56) Jesus addresses the weeping women that followed along. Some may think these women were there because it was customary for weeping or mourning women to be hired at deaths to help in the mourning, but public mourning was not allowed at executions. So, these were real expressions of mourning. (Luke 23:28)

A “great company of people” mourned Jesus. Were these the same that had shouted, “Crucify Him?” I don’t think so. It was then as it is now.  It takes a few rabble rousers to turn a crowd. Those who shouted for Jesus to be crucified were sympathizers with the pharisees who turned the hearts of the uncommitted, those who had been sitting on the fence and undecided whether to follow Jesus.  Jesus spoke in symbolism and parables many times so that only those who had ears to hear would understand. “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13) When Jesus spoke about being the Living Bread, many left Him because they only understood what He said literally and didn’t understand what Jesus was saying spiritually.  “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:53-54)

It's the same today. There are many sitting on the fence, undecided whether to follow Jesus 100%.  They want to believe completely but look at the cost and hold back. These, as those in those days are easily persuaded to turn their backs on Jesus. Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote about the parable of the sower. (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15) The seed that fell by the side of the road, on stony soil and among the thorns are those who either don’t understand the word and the devil steals it, robbing them of the light they need, or are those who love the Word when they hear it, but they have no root and are easily offended when difficulty comes.  And the others are so worldly that they make no room for the Word and it’s eventually choked out by their lusts. These were those that were easily persuaded to shout “Crucify Him.”  And these are those which may show up at church but are not faithful because other things take priority over a commitment to the Lord.

Great multitudes followed Jesus from Galilee.  They had notions of an earthly kingdom and wanted part of it. But Jesus speaks to them of self-sacrifice, of abandoning all and counting the cost of being His disciple. (Luke 14:25-33) I have run into several people in my times of sharing the Gospel that are hesitant to receive Jesus because they do think about the cost and are not yet willing to give up all for Jesus.  They understand that it’s a commitment. When they are ready, they will be the faithful ones because they have counted the cost. The Word of God that was shared will bear fruit in them.  It will accomplish what God wants. These will not be like the seed by the wayside, on stony soil or among the thorns. They will not be the ones shouting, “Crucify Him!” When they make their commitment, they would have counted the cost.

Now let’s look at ourselves. Have we counted the cost? Have we given up all to follow our Lord?  Or are there still things we are holding onto, our wants, desires, dreams or aspirations? Count the cost or go home the Spirit says. Be hot or cold but not lukewarm and loathsome to God. (Revelation 3:15,16) We are so worldly! And we don’t even know it. But the Holy Spirit can reveal these things to us. We can turn to Him and He is faithful to work God’s will in us, for us and through us. (Hebrews 12:2)