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“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
Matthew 10:24-25
In this culture, the belief was that the biggest goal for a disciple was to be like his teacher. It’s like that of having a new hire at a workplace. The goal is to take that man or woman and produce someone who can take the place and get the work done.
We see Jesus giving them encouragement for this hard task. Which implies that this mission would and will often leave them and you and I weary, down cast, disheartened, and even hurt. We see a true leader to learn from here. Christ isn’t just training these men, but he’s preparing both their minds and giving them the risk alongside of encouragement.
Christ never leaves us unprepared. This is a very important lesson to grasp in life. We need to look closely at the passages coming up. If we do, we can find the same encouragement given to them and take comfort as we, too, carry out the mission.
Im speaking to missionaries, stay at home moms, Pastors, children teachers, small group leaders, and the list goes on. Take heart. Its a hard task but lets hear what this first section offers:
1. Many Who We Seek To Help, Won’t Want It.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”
I know when we hear Christ talk to the Pharisees, it seems like he’s full force against them. But as we saw earlier, Jesus was a compassion-filled man. He just said in the passages before “be harmless as doves” or innocent as doves. He said in the beatitudes to,“love your enemy”
So it’s been made clear that his corrections of these men were meant to benefit them. To lead them out of the destructive council they were apart of. He was here to help. To give life.
And they slandered, mocked, and ridiculed him. He told them solid truth. Perfectly. No hypocrisy to thwart his witness. Yet they didn’t believe.
So we too, must find that we are not perfect like Jesus. This is plain, indeed we mess up often, but even if we did do everything perfect, let’s see plainly this wouldn’t matter. Because Christ did it perfectly and what happened?
This is an important lesson. Many say:
“If I only teach my kids the word of God! They would be different!”
Or
“If only I would have said the right answer, he would have changed!”
Or again,
“I just think the congregation needs me to be better!”
Oh, my friends. The heart of man is more corrupt than we give them credit for. If the master did all things perfectly and yet the man didn’t change, we must see that we can’t expect with our best foot forward to have any other results. We can’t always think that more effort or a better us will change someone. They really need a miracle to change. It’s an act of God to change a man.
It’s a hard lesson, but those who we seek to help, will often hate us. Even ignore and push us away. Do your best, pray for your people, but don’t be crushed by the thought, “If I only did better.” Cause if perfect wasn’t enough and they still hated him, be sure “better” may still come up short, too. If our master had it happen to him, we too must expect nothing more or less.
2. Name Calling And Rejection Is A Master Thing.
“If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
Men can say some harmful things. And especially to those who are living a righteous-focused life. They see the good and find conviction of their own acts. So they lash out. We must see again, that us being perfect wont change this either. They called the master names and maligned him. We are not perfect like our master, but worse. So we can probably assume that the names given to us will probably be worse. Don’t shrink back. If men call you and I names for following Christ, let us embrace it. We probably deserve the names, indeed we would probably get called names if we didn’t follow Christ. So if we must be ridiculed and mocked, let it be for Him. Our master was one who was called names, but for all the best reasons. We should desire to be like him. He was so solid and focused. Never worried about how men thought of him or what they said. He was an oak in the midst of blades of grass. His presence must have been so convicting. Like a diamond in the midst of stones. This master is truly someone to be like. Let us cling to Christ.
So here are the two points again,
1. Many who we seek to help, won’t want it. We can’t take this personal and assume it’s our fault. They rejected the perfect, they’ll reject the imperfect.
2. Name calling and rejection is a master thing. Live Godly lives and embrace the insults. Let them roll off your back and count it a sign you’re following your master.