Luke 14

“’Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’ But they remained silent” (3). Jesus knew that, when considering the Law, the Pharisees made allowances for their own friends, family, and concerns – their “child or ox” (5). Yet they refused to consider the needs of a suffering man in their midst (2). Jesus saw the way they were using religion to increase their own comfort and status and to make themselves feel good (7), rather than following God’s heart (12-14).

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (27). Our society tells us that our own rights and freedoms are priority, but being Jesus’ disciple means “carrying our cross” so others may know him.