First love

Christ continues to press the reality of being his follower, emphasising to the crowds the same things which he has said to the Pharisees: that to be a disciple of the Christ is all-consuming. He makes the point by way of a shocking contrast, that all other relations and affections take second place to him; by way of the heavy cross, that the path he takes brings the hostility and hatred of the world; by way of a careful calculation, whether or not you have weighed up what is at stake in following him; and, by way of a stark conclusion, that we must be ready to say farewell to all else in order to ensure we have Christ. His terms have not changed, but neither has the glory which makes it all worthwhile.