Let the Dead Bury Their Dead?

 Luke 9: 51-62 June 29, 2025

 

 “The son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”

 “No one who puts his hand to the plow

and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

“Let the dead bury their dead"

These are some of many quotes from Jesus that

your grandma never had needle-pointed on a pillow.

 

Jesus is kind of cranky today. No explanation why really.

Maybe it was the Samaritan’s rejection of him and the disciples,

Maybe it was because the disciples went right to

violence when things didn’t go their way,

like so many followers after them would.

Maybe it was because people seemed luke-warm

in their discipleship and Jesus knew he didn’t have

a long time to get things done.

 

It’s clear that Jesus is kind of frustrated over people’s lack

of commitment to his message

and their lack of urgency when it comes to God’s call.

 

I always thought that the roughest of Jesus’ quotes from this one

was “let the dead bury their dead”.

That’s definitely not making the

tag line or mission statement of any churches. 

 

I always thought that it was kind of rude

of Jesus to say this to a man who’s

father had just died and was just about to go bury him.

You think Jesus would be more sympathetic.

Maybe even go the funeral.

 

But I have read that the phrase “go and bury my father”

is a euphemism that has lost a some significance over time.

The thing is, this man’s father isn’t dead yet.

 

It’s a turn of phrase that means he has to

take care of his father into his old age.

After that, then he would be happy to follow Jesus.

 

So it wasn’t that he was grieving and needed

to actually have his father’s funeral right then.

It was kind of just a cop out. He was just saying,

I’m too busy for you now, Jesus.

Come back later, Jesus. Much, much later.

 

But Jesus face is set towards Jerusalem.

He was getting ready to face the religious authorities.

He didn’t have time to wait.

He didn’t even have time to wait for the person

who just wanted to say goodbye to everyone.

Things were happening.

 

And even though Jesus will be with us forever now,

we still have that same kind of urgency when

it comes to following Jesus.

People are hurting, people are dying,

People are falling prey to false religions

masquerading as Christian.

Food is being taken away from food banks,

families are being torn apart by deportations.

People are scared and they’re hopeless.

Jesus can’t wait for a couple of years.

 

And yet we still put Jesus off like that guy.

I know I’m always doing it.

We’ve all said, “Oh I’d love to do that.

I can see that thing needs to be done,

but I’ll have to  do it later.”

When this project is over,

when I have more time, when I’m retired,

when I’m not so busy doing other things, when I feel better.

When I don’t have other things to do.

 

We all have to set boundaries in our lives and

not take on too much in our lives. I respect that.

But I always seem to feel like there is some better time

in the future when I can do what needs to be done for God

but you know what? That time never seems to come.

 

We would really love to answer Jesus calls.

But life seems to get in the way.

And tomorrow, becomes the next day, becomes never.

 

And churches are usually bad examples for action.

As a whole body of people we often react to

God’s call in that same, slow, cautious way.

 

We keep saying we would do that ministry “if only”

If only we had more people,

if only we had more money,

if only we had more younger people,

If only we had better leadership,

If only we were in a better neighborhood, or a worse neighborhood.

If only we were different than we are right now . . .

 

If only we were like that church over there

then we could do what God wants us to do.

(Funny thing is, that church over there is saying,

“If only we were more like Christ Lutheran!”)

 

Jesus, we’d love to follow you,

we’d love to chase after the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,

but call us later. Much later.

 

But Jesus says, No. There’s too much to do.

“let the dead bury their dead”:

Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God is here now.

There is something happening now that can’t be put off,

we can’t wait until the perfect moment,

when we have whatever we think we need.

 

And besides that following Jesus way

and doing what God calls us to do

is what brings us life here and now.

It’s what gives us energy, and meaning, and purpose.

It organizes us and makes us into what God needs us to be.

 

Besides that, following Jesus is something that we can do

while we’re taking care of everything.

It is the way we take care of everything.

No need to wait to get our lives together.

Following Jesus puts our lives together.

Sometimes it turns everything upside down,

but still, it puts it together.

 

We follow Jesus in the way that we run our congregation,

in the way that we spend our money, lead worship,

conduct business,  deal with each other in meetings,

care for each other.

We follow Jesus in the way that we reflect the love of Christ,

embrace diversity, and serve Hilton Head.

It’s the way that we do everything that we do in the church.

And it’s the way that we live our personal lives as well,

the way we treat people,

the way that we interact our family and friends,

and the people we work with,

the way that we spend and give our own money,

the way we think, and vote, and engage the world.

The way that we live life every day is following Jesus.

We shouldn’t always need to stop what we’re doing to follow.

 

And whatever Jesus calls us to do,

we have to know that we can trust God.

We can trust that God has given us everything

or will give us everything we need

to do what God wants us to do.

Even if we fail, God will always bring

something new out of our efforts.

 

So, when we hear that call

we don’t need to wait for that ideal time and place.

or until everything is taken care of.

Don’t wait until summer is over, or until

you get your life straightened out a little more.

 

We can follow Jesus where he asks us to go now.

God will make the extra time in our lives,

God will prepare us for the task,

God will give us the strength and the wisdom,

God will give us what we need.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

 

So let’s put our hand to the plow and keep facing forward.