The Conclusion of the Galilean Ministry 3

Okay, we've been trying to get through the great Galilee and ministry. We've been trying to wrap up the conclusion of the great Galilee and ministry after the last two or three weeks. And hopefully we can't accomplish that tonight. There's just so much here that is beneficial and helpful to us, I think, as we talk about our walk with Christ to watch him walk is to learn how we should walk. And so it's worth the time to spend. I really had intended in this series on the life of Christ to do a survey and to have it accomplished in about 15 to 20 weeks. We're on lesson number 30, I think tonight or 31. I'm not sure 30, I guess it is. So, but we are, I trust finding some things that are benefit and help to us in our walk with Christ. The conclusion of the Galilee and ministry really ends with this third tour of Galilee. Let's take a look at at the map and remind you that Galilee is a fairly large region in the northern part of Israel. This blue shaded area is the region of Galilee. Now Jesus has centered his ministry in the city of Capernum. He's used that as a home base for reaching out to the whole region of Galilee. But during this 18 month time period of ministry, Jesus has made three tours of the whole region of Galilee. One time with the first four, maybe six apostles, it's difficult to know for sure how many. And then the last two have been with his 12 apostles. This one, however, he begins ministering with them in Matthew chapter 9 and he is so burdened by what he sees with the great number of people who are cast down like sheep brutally fleeced and bleeding and broken because of the teaching of the Pharisees. And so Jesus says, okay it's time for you guys to go out on your own. And so he sends them out two by two. Matthew chapter 10 tells us the story of Jesus sending them out in pairs as he continues traveling through Galilee as well. There are over 200 towns and villages in Galilee and so there's a lot of work to be done. And because of the amount of work to be done and the need for workers, Jesus sends out these men on their own and they spread throughout the region of Galilee. How long this tour took place, we really don't know. But in chapter 10 of Matthew, Jesus is giving his men his disciples instructions about what they will find and what they will encounter as they go into this region of Galilee. And we had begun those instructions talking about what Jesus had told them they would face. He told them where they should go in verses five and six. Just review quickly. He told them not to go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans just to the Law sheep of Israel. The reason is obviously this is an urgent tour. There's not time yet. It's not time until after the cross to spread broader to the Gentiles even though there are brief forays into Gentile territory and Samaritan territory during the ministry of Christ. And he tells them what to do. And what to do in verses seven and eight is there to preach the message and there to back that up with miracles which will confirm the authenticity of the message they're preaching. And then he tells them that he will provide for them in verses nine and ten. And again, remember as we saw last week this is not a normal operation for ministry. This is not a normal method of ministry. This is because of the urgency of the tour. They're to drop everything and go without getting any provisions. And God says I'll take care of you. This is not a model for ministry now where you just drop everything and take off without raising support as a missionary or without making any careful provision for the future. Later, right before the Res... Right before the cross Jesus in Luke 22 would lift this and say I told you to do that one time. That's not a normal means. Take a bag with you now. Take a sword with you. Take a extra cloak and so forth when you go. So this was for this particular time of going out on this urgent ministry. Now we left off in verse 11 so we'll pick up there tonight in verses 11 through 15 Jesus tells them that they will face a mixed reception as they go out into Galilee. They will face some people who will welcome them, some people who will not. And so he instructs them what to do. Look at verse 11. He says whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it. If it is not, let your peace return unto you. And the idea seems to be if these folks end up not receiving your message or they don't want you to stay once they find out what you're doing, then in a sense take back your greeting of peace. God's peace does not rest on this place. And verse 14 he says if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. Now to shake the dust off the feet was a cultural way of expressing, I want no part in this place. The idea is God will judge this place. In fact, he says he will. Verse 15 he says I tell you the truth, it will be more variable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that town. So God's going to judge this place. I don't want anything to do with that. I'm not a part of that. I've tried to warn him about that and against that. And so the very dust of this town, I'm leaving behind. As I walk out of this town, I'm going to lead and shaking the dust off your feet was a common cultural metaphor for completely disassociating yourself from someone. Now this is something that we don't think a lot about today, but Jesus talked to his disciples about several times when people continually reject the message, leave and go somewhere else where the message will be received. And that's that is I think a method of operation that we should practice today. Now again, we don't know how many times it takes before certain people come to know the Lord and so we ought to be very slow to pull up and move somewhere else. But Jesus tells them this on this tour. This is urgent. You're not going to have time to stay in one town, you know, the whole time. So if they don't receive you, shake the dust off your feet and move on. Okay, so they they will face a mixed reception. Any comments or questions about verses 11 through 15? Okay, verses 16 to 23. The next instruction Jesus gives them is to be ready for opposition. He's talked about you will be received. Some places not received. So get ready for opposition. And he describes that opposition in very graphic terms. In fact, some of the some of what he says here in these instructions obviously reach beyond this present campaign. And part of what he's talking about here takes place after the cross. Part of the warnings are only applicable after the cross. And some of the warnings at least one of them seems to apply to the tribulation time right before the second coming. And so Jesus is talking to them and he uses the word you, but much as he does in Matthew 24, the Olivet discourse where Jesus starts out talking to his disciples and says you will do this, you will do this. But then he's talking about what will happen in tribulation and the second coming and the millennium. He's using the word you kind of in a generic form of you representing any Jewish evangelist that will come along after you. Obviously he has to be using it that way because some of this does not apply to this current campaign. And we'll we'll note that as we go along. Look at look at what Jesus says first of all though in verse 16, very interesting expression. He says I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Okay, that that highlights the intensity of the opposition that they will face the attacks in some cases that they will face. Many makes this interesting statement therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. What do you think that means? He's talking about in the context of opposition you're going to face be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. What do you think if you'd been Peter what would you have understood from that? I probably wouldn't have understood that. To be shrewd like a serpent obviously means to be what? To be wise? To be careful? To be in a sense calculating? Know what your next move is? To be as shrewd as a serpent I think Jesus is talking about being prudent. In other words as you go into enemy territory as you face some opposition you're going to be like a sheep among sheep among wolves. You're going to face some attacks. Be careful. Be careful. Don't unnecessarily expose yourself to danger. Don't make yourself a target. Be careful. Much as we do with with missionaries today when missionaries are trained for instance in closed access countries to go in as tent makers to go in with some viable occupation and not unnecessarily expose themselves to danger. Jesus is saying don't go in with you know big fish sign on your chariot or whatever you're mule or whatever you know with don't go in with everything blaring allowed you know bullhorn blaring. I'm a Christian I'm a disciple of Jesus and and you've got to listen to what I say you know there's certain situations where it's just not wise just not wise to do that you operate a little differently and so Jesus is saying sometimes it's important to be a shrewd as a serpent don't unnecessarily expose yourself to opposition and you know there are some believers some ministries who still do that today. Why would someone want to burn a caran? Right I mean why why I mean I don't believe in the caran I believe it's a false book I believe it leads people falsely but why be stupid you know Jesus had be a shrewd as a serpent don't unnecessarily expose yourself to danger don't do crazy foolish stuff in the name of I'm taking the right stand I'm really standing from my Lord some of that kind of stuff is just foolishness it's just craziness and so Jesus says be careful be cautious but then he says then he says be as innocent as doves no no guile harmless there's a balance here because this almost seems to be the opposite of being a shrewd as a serpent be as innocent and as guileless no deceit is the idea of a dove don't compromise to escape persecution you can expect some persecution don't bring it on yourself by being foolish but if it comes don't try to be deceitful in getting away from it be honest be harmless have simple courage and there's a balance between those two it's not easy to know where that balance is sometimes but I think the apostle Paul gives us a good example of this you know Paul did not unnecessarily expose himself to danger in the opposition of the Jews and even of the Romans remember when he was arrested in the book of Acts in the temple area and was it was being beaten by a mob and the Roman soldiers in the Antonia fortress right beside the temple who always overlooked the temple grounds because that was a place where a lot of stuff erupted and they rushed in and got him out didn't even know who he was and as they are taking him into custody they're about to beat him and he says lawful to do that to a Roman citizen now I know what some Christians today would have done they would have said beat me I don't I want a good beat now on a show that I'm standing for Jesus and Paul said is it legal to do that to a Roman citizen he claimed his legal rights that's being as true as a serpent don't unnecessarily expose yourself to hardship or danger don't unnecessarily do that but if it comes take it you know Paul Paul never tried to escape from imprisonment he took whatever was needed out to him eventually it would be death but also when he found out there was a threat against his life a plot against his life he he was sent to Cessaria rather than stay in Jerusalem and later when a new governor comes on the scene who doesn't understand the situation wants to send him back to Jerusalem to stand trial Paul realizes that the Pharisees will lay a trap for him and he'll be killed so he appeals to Caesar he used the Roman judicial system to save his hide I mean he was as true as a serpent but when it came time to stand boldly and give a testimony before the king before the governor before Caesar he would not back down he was also as innocent and gyrilist as a dove didn't try to pull the wool of anybody's eyes he was very honest so there's the balance that's not easy to do it's not easy to have that kind of balance but Jesus told his men try to strike that balance as you go out don't unnecessarily expose yourself to danger but if the danger comes to you take it take it just don't try to cover up who you are okay any any questions comments about that very important principle in verse 16 yes or John I'm not real sure not real sure John um you You've seen me the thing is they practice that. They can take that in run with it. So well, there's like, you just set that. Yeah. I'm going to have to get a very lay there with the heavy. Playing wall that way. That's right. It's just done as a show. It was done, I think, more as an object lesson of a very real truth. And that is that, OK, you've rejected the message. God is going to judge you. I want you to know. I warned you. Now, my hands are off. I have no part in that. And the shaking of the dust off of the feet was basically saying, I disassociate myself entirely from what you have done in the way you've responded to this message. And I think it would be done. Is it condemned? Yes. Now, whether or not there's any more opportunity, who knows? I mean, Jesus goes on to say it will be worse for these people than for Sodom and Gamora in the judgment, indicating the final judgment. So that doesn't close the door to other opportunities, maybe later, for these people to reconsider and come to Christ. But again, you've got the situation where they can't stay three weeks in one village. They're moving around. They're trying to blitz through Galilee. So give them a good opportunity if they don't receive it. Move on is the idea. But obviously, Jesus is talking about the judgment's going to come later. So there may still be other opportunities for them. But it is a sign and a symbol of judgment, for sure. Verse 17, notice what Jesus says there, Be on your guard against men. They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. Now, here's where we start to dip over into beyond the cross, the book of Acts type stuff. Because they're not going to be brought before any kings or Gentiles in Galilee. He's told them not to go to any Gentiles. Okay. So again, this seems to be using the you of this is what's going to happen to you later in the book of Acts. And then verse 19, when they are, oh, verse 19, notice this encouragement. When they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say or it will not be you. Speaking, but the spirit of your father speaking through you, how many times I've heard that passage abused. As preachers or others saying, this is the way God works. If God's spirit is really in something, you don't need to prepare. Just get up and say it in the spirit of fill your mouth. I remember being on visitation one time in North Carolina. We had a Thursday night visitation program. And every Thursday night we'd go out and find someone to visit. And sometimes it would be people whose names were given to us. And I remember one night we went to a man, one of the deacons and I went to a man's home in a neighboring town. And we knocked on this guy's door and he came to the door and invited us in. We had a pleasant conversation. When he found out I was a preacher, he said, and this guy's unsafe. Okay, we know he's unsafe. He's already admitted to unsafe. He said, I want to be a preacher someday. But he said, I don't want to be one of those kind that you have to study and get ready. I want to be one of those kind where you just stand up and open your mouth and the Holy Spirit fills it. Boy, there was a lot I wanted to say. But I realized this is an unsafe man. He didn't know any better. And I'm trying to win him to Christ, not trying to debate him about what this passage is saying. But a lot of people use this passage to approve of ignorance, basically. Just get up and say whatever comes to mind and the spirit will fill your mouth. Well, I'm not so sure the spirit's filling anybody's mouth who does that because that's not what Jesus was talking about. He was not talking about a pastor in a local church who's supposed to be feeding his flock, the word of God. He's talking about when you're arrested and you're standing before a magistrate or, you know, a local official. And you have no clue what they're going to ask you or what they're going to say. There's no way to prepare for that. I'll take care of you in that situation. You don't have to worry. I will give you what to say. This is not the ministry of the word. And this passage kind of passage has been used. I've just okay. Just throw somebody up there who has no preparation, no study, no. That goes against everything Paul taught his young protege, Timothy goes against everything he taught Timothy. You know, he told Timothy sharpen your gifts, fan into flame, the gift which develop your gift. You know, work on it. Study to show yourself approved into God a workman that doesn't a workman that doesn't need to be ashamed rightly dividing this book, which means if you don't work hard enough, you can wrongly divide it. And that's a lot of what happens with people who just stand up and say whatever's on their minds. Continually Paul tells Timothy and Titus, a man is not qualified. Qualifications for pastor man is not qualified unless he is apt to teach the word. He says he's got to be able to refute false doctrine. Okay. Now that doesn't just come off the top of your head. So a passage like this is not it's totally ripped out of context to be used to support, you know, just standing up and the Holy Spirit will fill your mouth. And you really know God's working because you didn't have to prepare. You know, I've always believed the Holy Spirit can lead someone on Tuesday just as well as he can on Sunday morning. And so I'm convinced he can he can lead you as you slug it out and study the word just as he can when you stand up and both should be true by God's grace. Well, notice what else Jesus says here, verses 21 to 23 in this expecting opposition. Be ready for opposition. He says verse 21, brother will betray brother to death and a father his child children were well against their parents and have them put to death. I mean, okay, this is really this opposition is really escalating, isn't it? Family members turning in other family members to be arrested put to death. And then verse 22, all men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Now that sounds an awful lot like another passage. And by nowhere that is. It's a it's a proof text that's often used by people who don't believe in eternal security. And it's as such, it's often it's ripped out of context again. Jesus says almost this very same thing in Matthew 24 and the Olivet discourse when he's talking about the tribulation time and he's giving the signs of the approaching end of the times. And he says those that endure to the end will be saved. He's talking about preaching the gospel to all nations and the deception that will take place in tribulation time. And then those who endure to the end those who who live till the end of the tribulation time will be delivered will be saved, be delivered into the millennium. They'll be part of the saved people that enter into the millennium. Here he's talking about standing firm as they preach the gospel. And then look at what he says in verse 23, when you are persecuted in one place, plead to another, I'll tell you the truth. You will not finish going through the city's visual before the son of man comes. That's talking about the second coming and it's very similar to what Jesus talks about in Matthew 24 and 25. So here obviously he's using you, just like he does in Matthew 24 and 25, not them personally, but them representing Jewish evangelists in the tribulation time, who will proclaim the gospel throughout Israel and throughout the whole world before Jesus comes back. So there's a broader sense of this mission that he's talking about that applies way off in the future, but they're told to be ready for opposition. Any comments or questions about this opposition passage? This is God doesn't think we don't relate to time. It's almost like Jesus said this natural, invisible and invisible. Yeah. That's a, that is an excellent insight. God doesn't view things as we do in time. And so God sees the whole picture and he sees at the same time these men who are going out into Galilee in 32 a.d. or whatever. And he also sees Jewish evangelists. Who knows how long later, thousands of years later, a couple thousand at least. He sees all that happen at the same time. That's God's perspective on history because he does not operate in time. Someone has described the eternality of God or the omnipresence of God, both of those, like some overlap there. As watching a parade from a blimp. When you look at a parade from way up above it, you can see the whole thing. From the perspective of a person on the street, you can see what's already passed. You can see what that person on the street is viewing right now. And you can see what that person on the street will see five, ten, fifteen minutes later. And you see it all at the same time. Now that's how God views time. God sees past, present, future, all right in his presence right now. And so that's why he can easily jump. And he does this a lot in the Old Testament prophets. The Old Testament prophets are full of this near and far fulfillment. Something is partially fulfilled in the very near future, but it awaits a greater fulfillment later. Because God sees the whole strand of time. And so, yes, God sees these evangelists. He sees them also after the cross. And he sees Jewish evangelists in the tribulation time. He sees them all the same time. And so that's why he can easily say something that refers to all of them. That's a great way to see that. Okay, any other comments or questions? All right, verse 24, verses 24 to 33, Jesus gives them another command. And that is there to respond boldly to opposition. Three times in these verses, he tells them not to be afraid. Verse 26, verse 28, verse 31. Three times, do not be afraid. Because what's the normal human response to this kind of persecution that he's talking about? Let's face it, for any of us, it would be fear. So Jesus warns them, don't be afraid. And he tells them how they can overcome fear and be bold. How they can respond to this going out as sheep among wolves and all this persecution they may face, how they can be bold. And here are some boldness builders, if you will, some reminders of how to be bold. One is just remember that you're sharing Christ's suffering, verse 24 and 25. A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 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 B.L.s.abub, whoa, in the historical context, that would ring a bell with them, wouldn't it? I mean, the Pharisees have just in the recent days, maybe in the last couple of weeks, have said that he does his miracles by the power of B.L.s.abub. Okay, he says, if they said that about me, then how much more the members of his household? So one of the ways to stay bold in the midst of persecution is to remember, we're just facing the same thing Jesus faced. If we get any opposition, ridicule, misunderstanding, outright persecution, we're in pretty good company. We're no better off than our Savior. Okay, so that will give you boldness. The second thing he says, we'll give you boldness, is to think about the great privilege I've given you to serve me versus 26 and 27. Just what a great privilege it is to serve me. And notice how he describes this. So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. Okay, now, assimilate that for a minute. That which is concealed is going to be disclosed. That which is hidden is going to be made known. Now, I think verse 27 tells how that's done. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear? I love that. What is whispered in your ear? Proclaim from the rooftops. Now, what Jesus is saying is, I'm going to make known to you the hidden things, the concealed things. There's really so much theology here. It's just a grand statement. It's very similar to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2. That the natural man does not know the things of God. I has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him. And remember, that's not talking about heaven. That's true of heaven, but that verse is not talking about heaven. It's talking about man does not get God's revelation through the normal means of gaining and acquiring knowledge. Through what we see, through what we hear, through what comes to our intuition in our mind or heart. You don't get God's knowledge that way. You don't get God's revelation that way. But Paul goes on to tell the Corinthians, but God has revealed them to us by His Spirit. And what Jesus is telling His disciples here is, I'm going to whisper in your ear what the truth is, then you proclaim it from the house top. I'm going to reveal to you, disclose to you what is hidden. I'll tell it to you in the dark, you proclaim it in the daylight. And the idea is, I'm revealing to you truth and you have the opportunity to disperse it, to give it out. Now, the only way that's different from today is that everything's already been revealed. There are no more whisperings in the ear about revealed truth because it's all been revealed. But what God has whispered in the ears of the apostles and has now been put in down, we have the tremendous privilege to shout from the rooftops to make known in the daylight. We have the privilege to be able to take information given by God and give it out to the rest of people. That is a tremendous privilege. It really is. And so Jesus says, okay, so you're facing persecution. Just remember the privilege of serving me. You're taking information given to you by the God of the universe and He's entrusted you with the responsibility to give it out to other people. It's tremendous privilege that is. It's no greater privilege in the world than that. And so that'll give you some boldness as you face opposition. The third thing that will give boldness in the face of opposition is to recognize that we ultimately answered a God verse 28. He says, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can store both soul and body and hell. And the flow of thought here, what he's saying is when you face opposition, don't be afraid of somebody that all they can do is kill the body. All they can do is harm the body. Remember, ultimately, you answer to God. He has the power to destroy both body and soul. Okay, so the ultimate authority is the one to whom you answer. Don't forget that. He says, don't be afraid of people that all they can do is separate your soul from your body. Your soul goes to be with the Lord. What's so bad about that? Either way with that you win. If you're released from persecution, you win. If you die because of persecution, you still win. And so he says, don't fear the people who oppose you. Fear God. Fear God. He's your ultimate authority. That'll give you some boldness. The third, the fourth thing that will give boldness is that we know we can trust God's loving care. Look at what he says in verse 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father. And so the end of he translates it literally it is apart from your father apart from his presence. When a sparrow falls out of the earth, God attends the funeral or out of the heavens, God attends the funeral. He's there. He's there for something that seems to us very insignificant. And in verse 31, he will say, don't be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows. In other words, God's with you. God is with you. And you can trust his care. As an example of his care, verse 30 says, even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Now that at first glance may not seem to be a great statement of God's mighty power because for some of you, I could number your hairs in your head. It's not such a great task for some of you. Jesus does not say all the hairs of your head are counted. And that's how we normally understand that. They're counted. That's not what he's saying. It's not that he knows the number. It's that he numbers each one. And the idea is not that I'm going to number how many there are, but that each hair of your head has such significance to him that it has its own number. So when you comb your hair in the morning, God knows the one that falls out into the comb or into the floor is number 600,342. He knows exactly which hair that was. That's the point. It's not how much hair you have. It's that his concern for you is so great that he cares about the smallest details of your life, even the number, the exact personal number of the specific hair that is on your sink at home tonight. He knows that. That's how much he cares for you. Now that's the idea. It's not whether or not he can count how many there are. Again, for some of you, it's not too difficult. It's that he knows the number of each one. They are each one numbered. Wow. What are tremendous example of God's care. You can trust that kind of care. In the midst of persecution, you can trust him to take care of you. And then finally, he says a continual denial of Christ reveals that a person is not truly saved. This is kind of a warning. I mean, this will kind of give you some strength in your backbone when you're facing persecution. Verse 32, Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my father in heaven. That's pretty strong, isn't it? What does that say about Peter? Give you a little clue. There's these verbs in present tense. The idea is the one who continually disowns. The one who makes it a practice who lives a lifestyle of disowning. It's not a one-time deal like Peter. Peter disowns his Lord and was restored. But the idea is if you demonstrate in your lifestyle that you're ashamed of Jesus Christ, that's a continual way of lifestyle for you. You have no spiritual backbone at all. Then you're demonstrating you're not a true believer. He will disown you. So very strong warning for his disciples. And again, this is in the midst of them being sent out to proclaim his word. And they've got to do that with boldness. All right, quickly, Jesus says, give your ultimate allegiance to me. Verse 34 to 39. Do not suppose that I've come to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Wait a second. Didn't Jesus say he came to bring peace? Didn't he tell his disciples, the world gives you trouble. I give you peace. What do you think Jesus is saying here? Different kind of peace. What kind of peace did Jesus come to bring? You know, you're just sleepy. Heart peace. He came to give us peace with God, right? Peace with God. And thus, as we have peace with God, we're in the family of peace with one another. Those are the two kinds of peace. Peace of God. A peace with God. That's our relationship with him. Peace of God in our hearts. Okay. So that's the kind of peace Jesus came to bring. What's he talking about here? What kind of lack of peace is he talking about? Actually, he goes on to describe it. So let's move on. Verse 35, before I've come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter in law against her mother in law, man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Does Jesus enjoy splitting up families? Is that the point? What's he saying here about peace and hostility? Okay. All right. Sometimes you have to go against those who are going to stand between you and the family of God. All right. Anything else? Any other thoughts on that? Kissed? Right. Yeah. In most of the world, Muslim Hindu, even Jewish, world, if you become a convert and a follower of Jesus Christ, you're immediately cut off from your family. That's what the gospel does. It's not that Jesus is trying to split up families. It's because of the rebellion in men's hearts against the gospel. That's what creates the division. So Jesus coming into a person's life revolutionizes a life to where people who are rebelling against God naturally shun that. Don't want anything to do with it. And that's where the division comes. It's not that Jesus just loves stirring up trouble among families and splitting families. That's not the issue. It's that the gospel alienates those who are in hostility to God. Those who are against God are going to be against those who receive his gospel. And in most of the world, that is very real in a quasi-Christian country. Christian country in name, we don't face that as much as most places in the world. So Jesus basically brings it down to this in verse 37. Where's your allegiance? Where's your allegiance? It's going to be. Verse 37 says, anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life from my sake will find it. Some is Jesus hard saying some of his strong words. And the idea is when the division comes from within your own kin, you have to make a choice as to where your allegiance is going to be. Those are hard choices. This is a hard saying. But when that division comes, your allegiance must be first and foremost with Jesus Christ. That's what he's saying. He's not saying that we are to turn against our family. He's not saying that for instance, children who come to know Christ have the right to rebel against their parents if their parents don't know the Lord, he's not saying that. What he is saying is when you were put in a place to choose what your allegiance, your first allegiance must be a Christ. If the gospel creates a division in the family and you have to choose which way you're going to go, you got to choose Jesus. That's what it means to be a follower of his because he says following me may mean that you have to follow me all the way to the place of death. By the way, taking up your cross, boy, we ever watered that down today. You know, somebody gets a little back egg and they say, well, that's my cross. I've got the bear. That is not what Jesus is talking about. Jesus is using a very familiar scene to everybody among his listeners of people dragging a wooden beam up to a hill and being crucified by Roman soldiers and he's saying, you want to be my follower? You want to stand against opposition? It may mean you have to follow me up a hill and be put on a cross. That's what allegiance to me may mean. It may mean death. It's not talking about a stub toe or a, you know, a crick in your back. You're talking about dying. It may mean you die. And allegiance to me may call for that. I'm warning you. And for every one of the apostles except John, that's exactly what it would mean. According to records of the first century John was the only one that did not die of martyr's death. So they did. They followed him to death. And then he talks about reward. Remember that God will reward faith on this verses 40 to 42. He who receives you receives me. He who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a profit because he has a profit will receive a profits reward. And anyone who receives a righteous man because he has a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth. He will certainly not lose his reward. The idea of reward God rewards faithfulness. Did you notice he rewards the profit. Okay, that's someone who's going out with the message. He also rewards the one who receives the profit into his or her home. And notice, it's the same reward. Remember, did you see that? He gets the profits reward. See, God doesn't view things that God doesn't count up things like we do. God doesn't say, well, you were a missionary or you were such and such a full time Christian worker and you get a lot of points because of that. Nobody gets any points because of any occupation. We all get points because we're faithful to do whatever God told us to do. And if God calls you to be a welder and to be a faithful testimony on the job day in and day out, you get points for that. Just as much as a preacher, if a preacher is not faithful to his calling, then he'll get a kick in the seat of the pants at the judgment seat of Christ and the welder may be the one who gets the reward. That's the way Jesus sees things. Even somebody who gives a cup of cold water to someone who is in need, in this case, someone who's taking the gospel out will receive the reward. The equivalent to the one who's giving out the message. So don't get that confused. You know, I think we have this view of the judgment seat that all the missionaries and the pastors are going to be on the front rows. I may be stuck somewhere in the back. Okay. And you people up on the front who just live faithfully day in and day out for Jesus Christ. That's the way God does rewards. Totally different from our system. Our system. You got to run the fastest, be the strongest, lift the most weight, make the most baskets, hit the most home runs. You know, then you get the rewards. Not the way God counts things. He looks to see who's faithful and he gives rewards for that. We'll stop. We'll finish the great Galilee and ministry next week quickly. And then we'll move on into the next phase of our Lord's ministry, the training of the 12 fascinating time where Jesus begins to withdraw from the crowds and focus on the 12. Let's pray.