This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives his closest followers
a special mission and a special authority.

He tells them to preach what he has
preached and to do what he has done.

They are to announce the arrival of
God’s Kingdom and they are to heal the sick.

But along with this mission
comes a list of warnings.

People will ignore or reject their message, and
they will attack and persecute them as messengers.

This mission will cost these
disciples more than they can imagine.

But three different times,
Jesus tells them not to be afraid.

First, Jesus tells them not to be afraid
because everything hidden will be made known.

He links their persecution to his.

Jesus will be arrested in secret and
killed under a cloak of false accusations.

But his identity and victory over the grave
would not be hidden when he rose from the dead.

In the same way, Jesus promises he will reveal final
victory out of their most hidden
moments of persecution.

Second, Jesus reminds the disciples that they will
face some who can kill their bodies but not their souls.

Their persecutors can only do so much.

Jesus promises that those who lose
their life for his sake will ultimately find it.

They don’t have to be afraid
because Jesus can bring life
out of death.

Third and last, Jesus compares God’s care
for birds to his attentive care for the disciples.

They should not fear because God will care
for them far more than he provides for birds.

This mission is a living picture of
salvation and judgment through Jesus.

Those who receive the disciples’
message have “peace” come upon them.

But the disciples shook the dust off their feet
from houses and towns that rejected the gospel.

This was a symbol of the uncleanliness that
remained there—a promise that judgment would come.

The same offer remains for us today.

If we believe the message of the gospel, we have
peace between ourselves and God through Jesus.

But if we do not believe, we
stand unclean and condemned.

Jesus makes an incredible promise to
do what only he can do: to vouch for anyone
who has faith in him before his Father.

This is good news because we
cannot justify ourselves before God.

But through faith in Jesus, we have a Savior
who will proclaim us righteous before God.

Now Jesus has called we who
believe this gospel to go out as disciples.

We are to share the good news
and do the good works Jesus did.

We need not fear rejection because God has
already accepted us in Jesus. We need not fear

persecution because even in death,
we will find life.

And we need not fear scarcity or deprivation
because God has provided us with all we need

in the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus.

So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes
to see the God who sends us good news of salvation.

And may you see Jesus as the Savior who acknowledges his followers before his Father.