Breaking the Word

 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side. A scribe approached and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." Another of (his) disciples said to him, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But Jesus answered him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." (Mt 8:18-22)

Scribe was not belonging to his group. He was an outsider (not his disciple), but wanted to be his follower. His desire to follow him was so great that he was ready to go to any length. Jesus challenged him. The scribe was willing with “wherever” but Jesus challenged him with “nowhere”. So following Jesus is not to a distant place but following the person JESUS. 

This time a disciple of Jesus asked for a short break from following him and that was in fact to do his duty as a son. Following does not permit any break though it may be a justifiable one. Following Jesus has to be a continuous one without any break. No other relationship should enter in to disrupt the relationship that exists between Jesus and his follower.

Following Jesus does not carry with it any other obligation. No ideology, no person, no relationship, no distance, no space, no time could come in between Jesus and his follower. Follower has to be with Jesus.    

  When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." (To him) Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." (Lk 9:51-62)

Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem.  What was it that compelled him to go to Jerusalem?  It is said that the Samaritans did not welcome him because his destination was Jerusalem. So there was something in Jerusalem which the Samaritans were not keen on accepting it. Yes, the Samaritans did not accept the worship in Jerusalem. They worshiped God on Mount Gerizim (Jn 4.20).

Jesus was heading for his final worship (When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled). His mission was to proclaim and to establish the kingdom here on earth. It was being fulfilled in him. He gathered the people from Galilee and was leading them all to Jerusalem. It was there that he planned to offer the worship (sacrifice like Prophet Elijah in 1Kg 18). His determination was resolute.

As he was journeying he also prescribed the values that his followers should have on this journey towards Jerusalem. Every follower of Jesus should Journey to Jerusalem. On his journey (following) there is no place to rest (Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head). There is no time to wait (let the dead bury their dead). There is no person who is more important that he has to say farewell (No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what was left behind). So the kingdom that is established by Jesus which leads every one to Jerusalem for the final worship (that is his own sacrifice) can not be prevented by space, time and people.