Text: Matthew 10: 24-33

Fear can be a paralyzing emotion. The fear of failure has kept many people from taking a risk for success. What do you fear? Some fear flying so they don’t even though it’s a lot safer than getting in your car. Some fear rejection so they hold back from investing themselves in a close relationship. Many fear public speaking so they run the other way when it comes to talking in front of people.   Fear can hold us back.   I refused to see the movie Jaws because I didn’t want fear to keep me from surfing.

Of course, some fears are valid. They keep us from doing something foolish. Some fears make us hold on to the rail or wear a helmet or put on our seat belt or keep us from spending too much money.   We fear the consequences.

Here Jesus takes on a different kind of fear. A fear we need to face if we are going to follow him. The fear of what might happen when we share the gospel. Well first of all someone might turn to Jesus and be saved. That’s a great thing. But we know there’s another possibility. Some kind of anger or rejection. Like that man who cussed me out and chased me off his property when he found out I was a preacher. You don’t soon forget such a thing. Or maybe something far worse. We don’t like that. We don’t want that so we make excuses for keeping quiet. We’re afraid.

Sometimes people tell us, don’t be afraid. Mom or dad. A friend. How’s that work? Usually not. But someone else tells us that this morning. Not your pastor.   He needs to hear this too. That someone else is Jesus, your Lord and Savior. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let fear keep you from having that conversation. Don’t let it feed you all kinds of excuses when you know that it’s time.

Don’t be afraid to hold up Jesus

            Jesus had gathered his twelve disciples. In a short time they had seen and heard so much. A man with rotting flesh, cleansed of his leprosy. A storm of wind and waves made to submit to Jesus’ word. Two men set free from the demons which enslaved them to a life of misery. Many, many people healed not just physically but their souls, their spirits by his word of forgiveness and hope in Him.

They had seen and heard much and now it was time for them to go to the people and do ministry. Jesus gave them authority to do amazing things in his name. And they would proclaim the kingdom of God was near. Because the King, the Christ, Messiah was near.

I wonder if they thought that this would be easy. I was foolish enough to think that at one time. The gospel is so great. Just tell the good news of Jesus and people will welcome you and the Lord.

            But Jesus wanted them to know that their ministry would not just be one gospel victory after another. Just before out text. Jesus tells them they will be arrested and brought before the authorities. You’ll go into a synagogue and some may decide to beat you. You will be hated. He wanted them to know what to expect so they could be prepared.

And here he explains ²⁴ “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, (the prince o demons) how much more the members of his household!  What’s Jesus telling them? If you follow me, you can expect to be treated; you can expect to be regarded as I am. In another place Jesus says it very simply. If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first.

Jesus’ words are also for us who live today. They are for all his disciples who carry his name into this world. Know what to expect. Know what to expect when you hold up Jesus. Paul wrote the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. So don’t expect to get a big attaboy or attagirl for bringing Jesus up. Sometimes people will mock you or avoid you. They’ll call you names or worse. It comes with the territory. That’s why Jesus tells us. So we’re not shocked and discouraged. We’re ready. We’re ready not just for the joys of faith but also the sorrows of rejection. It comes with the territory. It comes with faithfulness to our Lord. So do not be afraid to hold up Jesus.

            Here is one important reason. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Every now and then a person is falsely convicted of a crime. How does he keep himself going while he languishes in jail. Trusting that one day the truth will be seen. Trusting that the truth is on his side.

Truth is on your side. Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the whole world. Even that person who belittles the gospel. Jesus rose from his grave and conquered death. Life is ours through faith in him. And now We trust that to be true. We take God the Holy Spirit at his Word. But this we can know. One day, the truth will be clearly seen. Jesus is Lord. I am forgiven. Heaven is my home. And life is mine in him. One day that truth will be clearly seen.

So do not be afraid to hold up Jesus. Do not be afraid to tell the good news. Let it come from your heart. Let it flow from your lips. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Don’t be afraid.

Don’t be afraid? Don’t let fear hold you back? Hatred, beatings, persecution. Not just these disciples, but also today. Think of Christians in Laos spreading the gospel. It can be a very hostile place for Christians. Years ago, one of our missionaries died there. He was gathering congregations of new believers. It was suspected that he was poisoned.

Don’t be afraid Jesus says. Not of them. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Don’t misunderstand. Jesus is not talking about Satan. He’s talking about God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Don’t fear man. Fear God.

But also know how much you are worth to him. Know God’s care for you. I love these next few verses. Jesus asks them:  ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Sparrows were food that the poor could afford. Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. God is even concerned with the lowly sparrow. ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So much does God care for you that he even knows how many hairs are your head. Now Jesus makes his point. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I love those words of Jesus. The Lord knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you and he cares for you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to hold up Jesus.

For Jesus will hold you up before his Father. The day will come when Jesus will have your name and mine on his lips.  What will he say? He tells us here: ³² “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. That’s you. Every faithful Christian sitting now before me. For with our hearts we believe and with our tongues we confess that Jesus is Lord. Not just in private. Not just to one another away from the world. But out there with our words and our actions, we say we belong to him.

But there is another side to that day. ³³ …whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. There are lots of people who claim to be Christians but whose words and life say just the opposite. In politics, we hear people called RINO. Republicans in name only. God forbid that we are CHINOS. Christians in name only. For how tragic it will be for such when Jesus says, to his Father I don’t know them.

But I believe in better things for you. Yes there have been times when we failed to give the reason for our hope,- Jesus. God forgive us. Forgive us Lord and lead us to hold up your Son to this dying world. Don’t be afraid. Amen