Matthew 10: 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household? 26 So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”
By this point, the disciples are hoping for some relief, some encouragement. But Jesus has even more warnings about the cost of discipleship. Why did Jesus tell his followers all these things just as he was sending them out into ministry? Jesus wanted to make sure that his disciples counted the cost before they committed themselves to following him. There would be no point in hiding the eventual costs from those on whom Jesus would have to rely to spread the news of the Kingdom. The disciples needed to realize that they would be called Beelzebul and possibly worse.
Who was Beelzebul? Beelzebul was a Philistine god who was considered the Prince of Demons by many Jews. Jesus was implying that at some point people would consider that he was demonic and therefore his followers must also be demons. For good observant Jews who had carefully observed the Laws of Moses, being misunderstood in this fashion would be misery! Jesus was warning in advance that religious leaders would throw his followers out of the synagogues and label them as criminals. Pretty bleak prospect, right? Why even start following such a teacher if this was going to be the result? But then Jesus sounded a note of hope.
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that no matter kind of evil someone intended against them, God already knew about it. At the right time, any evil devised against the followers of Jesus would become evident. And God was going to be with the Jesus followers so that they would be able to speak boldly and publicly. Shouting something from the roof top sounds crazy, unless we realize that the roofs were flat. Someone who wanted to make a public announcement could have easily gone up on the roof and shouted to the whole neighborhood. And Jesus was promising that he was going to give his followers messages at night so that they would be able to share those with others in the daylight.
Right now, you might feel that you are really in the dark. You are confused and afraid; your social media posts have exploded with more horrifying details about COVID – 19 than you ever wanted. But Jesus is here, just as he was with the disciples. If you will pray and ask Jesus for wisdom and hope, he will hear you and answer your prayers.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please come! Come to our broken, fearful hearts! Come in your strength, your beauty, your wisdom, your grace, and your mercy. Heal our hurts, take our burdens, and help us to realize that you are always with us, that you will never leave us or forsake us. In your mighty and precious Name, Jesus. Amen.
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