Hardcore Jesus...is He too hardcore?

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9:57-62.
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "(Lord,) let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
(To him) Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."
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No one who sets their hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.
I've got one thing to say to that statement - Ouch!

What is Jesus saying here? We all have second thoughts. We all wonder in our minds if we are doing the right thing. We daydream about how things were and about our childhood, do you think He's referring to that?
"Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." How do you think Doctor Phil would respond to Jesus over that statement? Sounds like Jesus is not looking for closure and does not seem to care if we have any either. What is the number one point here? Where do you see yourself in this conversation? Are you the person who says to Jesus, I will follow you anywhere? Are you the person who simply asks to go back and say goodbye to their family to which Jesus basically says, let it go and let's get going! Remember, by this time Jesus had already separated Himself from His family in a way. When He was teaching in a small house and His family came to hear Him and the people told Him His brothers and sisters were outside. Jesus responds and says that only those who listen to the words of His Father and follow them are His brothers and sisters...ouch. The cousins were cut off. (Hebrews do not have names for uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, etc. everyone is a brother or sister in the family).

Jesus is what today would be termed as isolated and focused on His lone quest regardless of who in His life He leaves on the curb. By today's psychological standards this is considered unhealthy. That family is important and we should be on the look out for isolationists, that they may be planning something dangerous and we should alert authorities. Jesus is saying plainly that we are to be like Him in this respect, to look forward and go with a purpose in mind and heart. To cast off family members, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters to carry out the purpose of the kingdom of God. Almost sounds cultish if I may say so but Jesus is not telling people that He is to be adored and worshiped but rather our Heavenly Father who is truly God of all. So is Jesus being too hardcore here? How important was spreading the kingdom of Heaven to Jesus? How seriously did He take His purpose and goal? How important are you taking your part in His purpose and goal? Many will make Jesus to be a piece of milk toast, a person who has gentle features and soft spoken voice who would not swat a fly because it was a creature He created thus it would be out of His character to kill or maim something or someone He created. I respond to that type of thinking by saying that here we listen to and see the real Jesus and His mindset. He is focused and He is driven, He tells others that if they want to follow Him and His ways then they too have to become focused and driven. Jesus is not a frustrated nerd who lived His life at home close to mother and had no real friends and so now is seen as a person striking out because He lacks being heard. Jesus is the Son of God and He has a Holy calling on His life, He was baptized by John in the river Jordan and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and God, the Father spoke and stated that this is His Son. Jesus is the right hand of God the Father and every behavior, every act, every proclamation Jesus exhibits is straight from the character of God the Father Himself.

Is the proclamation too hardcore for you? Is what Jesus says too cultish for you? Have you ever given yourself over to anything in your life in such an extreme way as this? Does it excite you to think about doing it? To cast off all of the world's trappings and follow Jesus with great abandon? To press into God and rely completely upon His provision? Then my friend, why wait any longer, you are fit for the preaching of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Don't wait any longer, run to Him and find your life.