Jesus had taught, cured the lame, given sight to the blind, raised the dead and driven out daemons in the previous chapters of Matthew’s gospel. In last week’s gospel Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. He shared his powers so his disciples could help him address the needs of the large harvest.

Having seen the joy that Jesus spread when he cured people and realizing that they would have the same powers must have been intoxicating to the disciples. They may have imagined themselves striding into crowds of sick and needy people and providing instant relief and joy.

**

In this morning’s gospel, (Matthew 10:24-39), Jesus splashed some cold water on their expectations.

With a nod to his own difficulties with the religious authorities and his coming passion and death Jesus said, 

‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!  

Jesus identified himself as the master of the house, cautioning the disciples that they, too, would be maligned. 

**

He continued,

‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

A paraphrase of Jesus’ words might be: ‘I’m not going to hide the truth from you. My instructions will get you in trouble. Nevertheless, I want you to shout out my words. And don’t worry about those who threaten you with bodily harm. Rather, fear those who can destroy your soul.’

**

Then Jesus reassured them:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

In other words: If God cares so much about these sparrows, imagine how much more he will watch over and care for you.’

Throughout his ministry Jesus focused his attention on the poor, hungry, blind, lame and ill…the socially marginalized. In the eyes of both the secular and religious leaders these were as insignificant as two sparrows…hardly worth noticing. Yet Jesus assured his followers that his Father watched over them with care. In arguing from the lessor to the greater he told them that you are of more value than many sparrows.‘

**

The Father’s caring relationship is the goal for Jesus and his disciples.  

‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Acknowledging has several slightly different senses. It can refer to accepting the truth of a person. It could be recognizing the important quality of that person. It also conveys a sense of greeting or welcome. Jesus uses the word to represent the ultimate achievement.  
On the other hand, denying Jesus as the one sent by God would be more damaging to one’s eternal life than anything Jesus’ opponents can do. Jesus says that he will acknowledge you to the same Father who watches with care over the sparrows. 

**

Some of Jesus’ most startling words appear next.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 

Jesus was telling his disciples, honestly, that his words would be divisive. Not all members of the same family would follow Jesus’ instructions. Moreover, their disagreements would create tension and hard choices between loving and following him and loving their own families.

**

Then he punctuated his point with an exclamation, indicating his own form of death:

and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Paradox abounds in these two sentences. The worst criminals were sentenced to death on a cross. It was a gruesome public torture and punishment reserved for the most terrible offenses. Yet Jesus was telling his disciples that they would be worthy only by being willing to follow him on the way of the cross. Then he added, those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 

To many, his words about ‘losing life and finding it’ made no sense. They may have seen life as a binary state…either life or death…. not something that can be parcelled out in pieces. To their way of thinking, a person cannot simultaneously lose life and gain it.

But Jesus brought an understanding of life as something beyond the animation of the body. He spoke of life as an inextinguishable way of being that transcends flesh. The fulfillment of that life would be in relationship with the father.

**

A paraphrase of the gospels of the last three weeks might be: ‘Following me will have its rewards in the gratitude of the people you teach and cure. But make no mistake. Others in authority and even close family members, will reject you and my teaching, because of what it would cost them. You must be prepared to suffer for following me… even face mortal death. But if you are faithful to my teaching, your life will continue …even if they kill your body….and I will introduce you to my Father’

**

  • What does ‘acknowledging’ mean to you? Recognition? Welcome? Care? How would you paraphrase: Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven ?
  • Try watching sparrows with the perspective that God loves and cares for them. Consider God’s valuation of your life as ‘more than many sparrows’.
  • Are there members of your own family who dismiss your acknowledgment of Jesus? Does this part of Jesus’ prophecy feel true? Is it hard? 

Peace
Michael