Faithful Father: The Hope of His Children

Trouble in the Text:

Jesus was continually preparing his disciples for the day when he would not be physically with them. Jesus told them many times that he would have to leave them, either in clear language or by metaphor, that he would have to die and return for a short while, but then he would have to leave them.

All this language was confusing because they had been told in all of their Torah training in the synagogue that if there would be an actual person as the Messiah, that he would be coming to rule and reign over all the world from the throne in Jerusalem, and beware any who opposed him.

Coming to this passage, Jesus had been preparing his disciples for a different outcome than they assumed, persecution by religious and political leaders, and he says, “do not be afraid of them.”

This not to say that bad things will not happen to them, but, in fact, because they are his disciples, they will treat them as bad as they treated him. God will not spare them from unhappiness, as Jesus was not saved from having to give his life.

We might say:

This is NOT a happy thought, Jesus!

This is NOT a positive thought, Jesus!

What hope can I draw from you saying this?

Almost every time Jesus tells his disciples they will be persecuted and some of them will die terrible deaths, the disciples were quick to deny it OR as Peter, even ready to rebuke Jesus for saying it.

They may have wanted to believe all the good, pleasant, positive things so much, that they were blinded to the truth of what must happen, that Jesus must die for all to be free of sin.

They were blinded by fear of what might happen to them.

How do we know that? Because Jesus addressed their fear. He tells them not to be afraid of anyone who can only kill the body. Instead, he reminds them that they should only be fearful of offending the one who can kill the body and the soul, God, who is our only righteous judge.

Earlier in Matthew, Jesus had spoken of knowing the difference between true and false prophets, those who said things that people want to hear (good or bad), and those who tell people what God wants them to hear.

His injunction that all that is hidden will be made known, implies that the thoughts of all, those who are faithful to his commands and those who persecute them, will be revealed to God and brought to heal under God’s justice.

We will be judged in the same we we have judged others. (Matt. 7:2)

This does not absolve the persecutor or the persecuted of any evil thoughts and actions they might do with good intent, or any evil that may be done against them.

It is also understood clearly that the truth of Jesus Christ being our Salvation will be made known publicly to all.

Jesus calls his disciples out to speak openly and freely about the grace of God given to them for their salvation. Jesus even says to shout it from the rooftops, because back then, when they addressed a crowd, it was often from a high place or roof.

Proclaiming the truth publicly is not always an easy task.

When we tell others about things publicly, someone in the crowd will be upset. There is no guarantee that what we say will be accepted. There is no guarantee that people will not become angry and react. There is no guarantee that our lives will not be lost.

For believers of first and second century, this could easily result in their deaths, as it does later with John the Baptist when he speaks the truth against Herod, and as it has been for countless believers across the generations.

Trouble in the World:

How is it that this generation thinks that it is not necessary to speak of this life-giving truth that our Lord calls us out to speak?

Can it be that we have let the fear of man so creep in?

That we are terrified of the response we might receive?

Can it be that we only see one method for communicating our faith?

Or maybe, we just do not know how to speak of our faith, and so, are afraid to bring up the conversation?

Fear is such a powerful force, if we are trusting in our own words, or our own faithfulness to keep God’s commands. Then, we are bound by fear, we are enslaved by it, and it holds us down as we continue to be beaten by the enemy. We lose hope.

Jesus even says that his disciples have to be willing to be persecuted by their own family, so that they might not lose their reward.

So, to speak the truth with boldness as Christ commands, we must know something about ourselves and the origin of the message:

Who is sending the message we are speaking?

With what authority are we given to speak that message?

What are the benefits or consequences of speaking or not speaking?

Grace in the Text:

These questions are about identity, who we claim to be and who we claim to follow.

By surrendering our claimed to personal freedoms by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord, we will indeed find our true self. A healthy self-esteem will not be based on the fickle opinion of family or friends but on God’s call and God’s love. Then, there isn’t any suffering can take away the sense of one’s eternal worth.

Jesus clearly answers all of these questions in the passage:

God is the one who gives us what to speak, even when we have no words of our own.

God gives us the authority to speak his words, as we obey God’s commands, trusting that all God says has been and will be fulfilled.

The consequences of NOT speaking God’s message of salvation is sin and death, not just of our own but of others who would not hear the message we would give.

Yet, it was Peter, who was presented a chief denier, but still obeyed Jesus, who was brought back into the good graces of God by his confession and successive action.

It was Judas, who pretended intimacy to Jesus, while planning to betray him, who found his death by providence, wasting all that he was deluded to gain.

The one who does not, though he pretends, will find eternal death.

The one who does as commanded, even while doubts remains, is held as faithful.

Whoever remains in love of God, and therefore keeps our Lord’s commands, finds eternal life. Whoever shares their love of God with others, brings others into the family of God and immediately sees their reward, a life full of divine purpose and the love of God.

Grace in the World:

So, the best way to share the love and grace of God in the world is to proclaim the truth about Jesus Christ.

Jesus alone overcomes the suffering that comes from being separated from family and friends, especially when conceiving of an eternity without them. But, becoming a part of the body of Christ, we add to our eternal family each time the receive the free gift of grace that we offer for their salvation.

Matthew 10:40–42 NIV

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

(v. 40) the faith that the master places in the disciple and the faith the disciple places in the master is a reciprocal relationship that grows to others through trust that is built between them.

While all Christians were expected to spread the word, not all are called to be itinerating (wandering) missionaries.

In receiving those who proclaim the gospel or in the hospitable reception of strangers we receive and bless the one we call our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The fact that even the trifling gift of a cup of cold water to one of the little ones will be richly rewarded is ample proof of their importance in God’s plan. This suggests the gospel of Jesus Christ given with the intention of extending grace through filling a need, may open the door to bring someone else the message and reward of eternal salvation.

Let’s add to the family of God by sharing the gospel to everyone who would hear it.