As Luke starts to write about Jesus and the next phase of his ministry, he clusters together three short examples of instances where Jesus discusses discipleship and the implications of becoming one.  There is some significance in having three examples. It underlines that the decision to be a disciple has long-term, lifetime and lifestyle implications. Three could mean that it has a beginning, a middle and an end. At the beginning of a clear task there is enthusiasm, in the middle there is perseverance, a determination to continue irrelevant of cost and circumstances. Then at the end there remains a determination to carry on through to completion.

Peter is the example of a disciple (see disciple example 1). Jesus uses threes to underline his important challenges to Peter. It includes his failure when he knew he would deny him. Peter would deny him three times before the cock crows.

The failure of Peter at this time seems to link to the first example where someone is so enthusiastic that Jesus has to point out the hardship that comes at times, testing the person’s determination. There are warnings about counting the cost before making decisions.

Jesus accepted that, at times, Peter was going to fail. Peter feels dreadful but Jesus does not mind. Failing at times is part of discipleship. Jesus was determined to complete his ministry. He retained confidence in Peter. After his resurrection he specifically spoke to Peter about love and shepherding the other disciples. To underline the importance of the task and that it had long-term implications, Jesus repeated the instruction three times.

On other occasions, when Jesus wants to emphasise a statement he repeats “Truly, truly …” at the start, for example “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life…”.

The other two examples underline the importance of the decision. It will affect priorities. In practice it does not necessarily mean missing a funeral or avoiding explaining a decision to others. However, the examples underline the importance of a decision and the potential changes that may occur.

Ploughing by hand requires a focus on looking forward to ensure a straight furrow. Once ploughed the ground changes completely. There is no point looking back, thinking about what might have been.

The number three can have significance in the bible. For example, as well as above summing up the fulness of a role, God can be viewed as the trinity, and there are three virtues that abide, faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13).

Later in life, Peter writes about a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus to obtain an inheritance. By all accounts Peter continued to be a disciple and fulfilled the task given to him by Jesus of shepherding others.

Background

Luke chapter 9 verses 57 to 62 - As they were going along the road, someone said to him (Jesus), "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." And he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But he said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Peter is the example of a disciple (see disciple example 1). Jesus uses threes to underline his important challenges to Peter. It includes his failure when he knew he would deny him. Peter would deny him three times before the cock crows (Luke chapter 22 verses 31 to 34; 54 to 62).

The failure of Peter at this time seems to link to the first example where someone is so enthusiastic that Jesus has to point out the hardship that comes at times, testing the person’s determination. There are warnings about counting the cost before making decisions (chapter 9 verses 23 to 27).

Jesus accepted that, at times, Peter was going to fail. Peter feels dreadful but Jesus does not mind. Failing at times is part of discipleship. Jesus was determined to complete his ministry (verse 51). He retained confidence in Peter. After his resurrection he specifically spoke to Peter about love and shepherding the other disciples (John chapter 21 verses 15 to 17). To underline the importance of the task and that it had long-term implications, Jesus repeated the instruction three times.

On other occasions, when Jesus wants to emphasise a statement he repeats “Truly, truly …” at the start, for example “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life…” (John chapter 5 verse 24). The other two examples underline the importance of the decision. It will affect priorities. In practice it does not necessarily mean missing a funeral or avoiding explaining a decision to others. However, the examples underline the importance of a decision and the potential changes that may occur.

Ploughing by hand requires a focus on looking forward to ensure a straight furrow. Once ploughed the ground changes completely. There is no point looking back, thinking about what might have been.

The number three can have significance in the bible. For example, as well as above summing up the fulness of a role, God can be viewed as the trinity, and there are three virtues that abide, faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13).

Later in life, Peter writes about a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus to obtain an inheritance (1 Peter chapter 1 verses 3,4). By all accounts Peter continued to be a disciple and fulfilled the task given to him by Jesus of shepherding others.