Sunday thoughts

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
>>
Jesus told this parable while visiting with the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the religious authorities of the day, and they were watching him closely to find some reason to discredit him.
At the same time, many of the common people were following him, partly at least because he was miraculously healing people and providing food for the masses.
As was often the case, Jesus did not say what one might expect. He went past the surface issues - those following out of anger, mistrust or greed - and went to the deeper issue.
The deeper issue being one's motive and attitude.
It is good to question things as the Pharisees did, but they were assuming that Jesus was wrong and were questioning only to prove that point.
The masses were following for what they could get. There are benefits, but that cannot be the only reason for believing.
This was the deeper point. Jesus - God, wants disciples, or followers, who love God above all else. He does not mean we must hate our family and ourselves. He is not talking about feelings, but about choices. He wants us to put our faith above everything else as a priority, even above our own life.
When he talks about carrying your cross, it seems strange to us, but it would not have been strange to people hearing it. There was only one reason to carry one's cross. That reason was to be executed.
When we come to God, we do have to give up our life, and that is real salvation. But we receive a new life - which is what being born again is - and that is a great treasure. By comparison, the treasure is worth more than even our families and even our own lives.
This is the life - the new life, the exchanged life - is the life we were meant to live.
Jesus does not want us to literally hate people, or to kill ourselves.
What he wants is for us to give up our life that is sinful by nature, so that he may give us a new life that he has created for us. This is a matter of faith. Being born again is not a matter of "cleaning up your act" or making a new start.
We have to give up - crucify - our old life and begin a new life of faith.

Romans 6:4 - We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.