And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-33 KJV) In Luke 14 Jesus spoke about the cost of being a disciple. The audiences were people from all walks of life. Disciples are one who follows their master. Some even mimic how the master speaks and acts. Disciples were the term Jesus used to describe His followers. This passage of scripture is not to be brushed pass if you are a believer of Jesus. This passage stated the requirements of being a disciple of Jesus. I must say this passage has been a heavy yoke on my shoulders since the day I committed my life to Jesus. I did not fully understand what it meant. The Gospel seemed to demand us of something before we can be regarded as a disciple. The issue was not whether we are willing to pay the price but rather, do we have what it takes to pay that kind of price which was clearly stated. My conclusion is that Jesus was driving across a timeless truth - You do not have what it takes. Stay on with me if you disagree. Jesus mentioned one must bear the cross to follow Him. He did this not on one occasion. Firstly do we understand what the cross meant? The cross means so much lesser in our time than in Jesus' time. It was a symbol of death! Not glorious death but shameful, cursed, despised, the worst kind of death in Jesus's time. We carry that cross? Can we say a loud yes? For me, I hesitated. Jesus advised that we count the cost in the latter part of His speech. If we sincerely work through the list we will find ourselves wanting. The truth of the matter is when we came to the Lord and ask," Who then can be saved?" He will then reply," With men it is not possible, but with God all things are possible." The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18 KJV) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:11 KJV) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:9, 10 KJV) Emphasis mine.

May we see that only with Jesus, we can accomplish much. For we do not have what it takes. That is the same meaning as the story of the vine and the branches.