Matt. 10:26-39
We have been looking at the disciple relationship which Jesus began teaching here. Remember, these are the words that Jesus had given to those disciples whom He most trusted who had agreed to give up everything to follow Him. Jesus promises the small few Believers who are truly willing to follow Him (not just those who believe in Him and will get to Heaven some day) that they will be transformed into His image and be His representatives on this earth.
In this section, Jesus teaches that the values of a disciple and his perspectives of life must change. There is no longer any room for fear as one follows Christ because the trust and faith in Him should imbue the disciple with a peace.
The more a person submits to being a disciple of Christ, the more he or she must give up expectations in and entanglements with the world. His or her own interests have to be denied and done away with before one can be truly qualified as a disciple.
The Kingdom life introduces and substantiates a whole new set of values and roles into the life of a disciple of Jesus. This new reality must become settled in order to become firmly established in his or her calling in the Kingdom of Heaven.
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39″He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”(Mt 10:38-39)
Jesus promises a totally new life. The things that are old and wasting away, will be replaced with eternal things. Some like to paint a picture that this means life is all rosy, but this is not what Jesus tells us. We must take up our own cross just as Jesus did. There will be suffering, but that will come with the immeasurable blessing of knowing and live a life with your Creator and Savior. These blessings will be both in the afterlife and in this life. (see Mark 10:29-31)
Matt. 10:40-42
Jesus sends His disciples out with His full authority. He has equipped them and He has blessed them, that they can bring His favor with them. They were His representatives in every sense of the word. They basically were Him to those they came in contact with. He gave them this much responsibility and backed them up as if they were Him. How much more so now is that responsibility and authority offered to those who fully give their lives to Him today?
We’ve moved quickly through these scriptures. What would you like to add here?