“Life of a Disciple” (Luke 6:17-26)

 

*Painted by Joyce Kang, "Psalm 84:5"

Walking in Circles?

Today is a snow day, so let me begin with a story about winter weather. Years ago, a man went missing in the Alps. For 13 days, he desperately searched for a village, walking more than 12 hours a day in terrible weather. He thought he was making progress, but in reality, he had been walking in circles within a 4-mile radius. Scientists tell us that when people walk with their eyes closed, they naturally move in circles without realizing it.

 

But here’s the fascinating part—there is a way to walk straight. If you pause regularly to reorient yourself, even with your eyes closed, you can stay on course. The problem wasn’t that the man was too slow—it was that he never stopped to check his direction. By God’s grace, today’s scripture is given to us as a wake-up call – a chance to stop and reorient ourselves. Today’s passage, Luke version of the Beatitudes, challenges us to ask three essential questions. 

 

Disciples Vs. Crowds

The first question is this: “Am I living as a disciple, or as a part of the crowd?” Right before today’s passage, Luke tells us how Jesus chose his twelve apostles. Then we read:

 

“Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there” (Luke 6:17, CEB).

 

There were always two groups following Jesus: the disciples and the crowds. The crowds in Luke 6 followed Jesus, hoping for blessings, miracles, healings, and quick solutions (v. 19). But Jesus turns to his disciples and teaches them. So the Beatitudes and the entire Sermon on the Mount are not for the curious crowds but for committed disciples.

 

Here, we can see a parallel between Moses and Jesus. God chose the twelve tribes of Israel and made them his special people. God gave them Moses as their leader, who received the law on Mount Sinai and taught them how to live as God’s people. In the same way, Jesus chose the twelve apostles on the Mount as the nucleus of a new Israel. Then he taught them and other disciples what it means to be disciples.

 

If we sum up the entire Old Testament law into one phrase, it is: “Be holy” (Ex 19:6; Lev 21:8). Or, put another way: “Be different,” or “Be peculiar.” If we sum up Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount into one phrase, it would be Matthew 6:8: “Do not be like them.” It’s a call to be different. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, NRSV). Be transformed. Be different. Be a disciple. Then, what is a disciple? A disciple is someone who lives out God’s kingdom values – the Beatitudes.

 

Life Vs. Death

That leads to the second question: “Am I choosing life or death?” In Deuteronomy, Moses gives his farewell sermon. He knows he will not enter the Promised Land, so he gives his final words to Israel’s second generation. And the key message is this: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your children may live” (Deut 30:19).

 

In the same way, Jesus sets before us two paths – life and death, 4 blessings and 4 woes. Jesus teaches a paradoxical truth:

 

Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the persecuted – not because suffering is good, but because they know their need for God.

 

Woe to the rich, the satisfied, the laughing, the applauded – not because these things are bad, but because they can blind us from seeing our true need.

 

Richard Rohr, in his book Falling Upward, tells the story of a man who spent his life building his reputation and career, thriving in the "first half" of life. He had success, financial stability, and a strong sense of identity in his achievements. But then, everything collapsed – his business failed, his marriage ended, and he lost what he thought defined him. At first, he saw this as a curse. But over time, this crisis stripped away his illusions of control. Through this painful process, he moved from being part of the crowd—trying harder to chase security and approval—to becoming a disciple—learning to trust in God’s grace.

 

When we realize that we are poor, we are hungry, we are not enough, we need help – then we are blessed, because that’s when God becomes our help, our life.

 

Eternity Vs. Now

Finally, we must ask: “Am I living for eternity, or just for now?” Many people today are like the lost man in the Alps. They were moving, searching, wanting more, but never stopping to ask: “Where is my life actually heading?” But without stopping to listen to Jesus, we may just be walking in circles. We may be just living for now.

 

A wild duck was flying north with his flock in the spring when he stopped in a Danish barnyard. There, he found tame ducks and plenty of food. He thought, I’ll rest for a while. But one hour became a day, then a week, then a month. Eventually, he decided to stay all summer, enjoying the safety and easy life of the barnyard. Then autumn came. One day, he heard the call of his old flock flying south. His heart leapt with excitement, and he flapped his wings to join them. But he had grown soft and heavy from his easy life. He could only lift himself to the barn’s roof before falling back down. So he told himself, Well, at least I’m safe here, and the food is good. Year after year, the wild ducks flew overhead, calling to him. At first, he would feel a stirring inside and try to flap his wings. But over time, he stopped noticing them at all.[1]

 

May we never be domesticated! May we never grow so comfortable and well-fed that we lose our hunger for “the things that are above” (Colossians 3: 1, 2).

 

Falling Upward Journey

It may surprise you to know that professional mountain climbers begin their ascent around midnight. This seems counterintuitive—after all, midnight is when our bodies are at their weakest, when exhaustion is greatest. Yet, for high-altitude climbs, midnight is the safest time. The snow is frozen solid, reducing the risk of avalanches. What feels like the darkest and hardest moment is often the best time to move forward.

 

Perhaps today, you feel like you are in a valley of disappointment. Maybe you’re weary, struggling to endure. But in God’s eyes, this difficult season might be a golden opportunity—a time when your heart is most open to encountering Christ in a deeper, more powerful way. When the night feels longest, let us remember—this may be the very moment God is leading us deeper and higher.

 

Before we leave today, let’s ask ourselves:

·       Am I living as a disciple, or just part of the crowd?

·       Am I choosing life, or settling for what is easy?

·       Am I living for eternity, or just for now?

 

Jesus' words still ring true: “Blessed are you who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted because of the Son of Man… Rejoice when that happens! Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven.” Amen.

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[1] R. Kent Hughes, Luke (2 volumes in 1 / ESV Edition) (Preaching the Word) (p. 224). Crossway. Kindle Edition.