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 disclosed, 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. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.REFLECTIONSWritten by Sam DarmoAs Christ’s people and His witnesses, as we obey the great commission to go out and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19-20), how do you think the world is going to react towards us?Jesus Christ our Lord answers the question in verses 24-25 by saying that the unbelievers of the world will treat us the same way they treated Jesus. Although Jesus is the LORD of glory, some of his own people accused him of being the worst thing in their minds: Beelzebul, or the Lord of the flies (lord of the evil spirits).The Gospel message is offensive to the world because it exposes the lawlessness and wickedness of the human heart. But Jesus Christ our Lord reminds us three times not to be afraid. In verses 26-27, he tells us not to be afraid of proclaiming the gospel which we have learned from Him, but instead to proclaim it and see its power (Rom. 1:16-17).In verse 28 he tells us not to be afraid of people (who can only hurt us physically), but to be afraid of what God will do to those who do not repent. Fearing men and not God is a kind of idolatry.In verses 30-31 he tells us not be afraid because we are worth more to God than other creatures. In fact, we are worth so much more to God that he did not even spare His own Son to save us (John 3:16; Rom 8:32). So do not be afraid of anyone, because we are worth more than sparrows; and like the lives of the sparrows, our lives are in God’s hand and under His sovereign good will, especially to those who love Him (Rom 8:28).“Do not be afraid!” – but that’s exactly what I forget sometimes. Pray with me that we won’t be afraid because Jesus Christ our LORD is our victorious risen God.QUESTIONAre there people you are afraid of? When you see a bird, what can you remember to help you to be brave and speak about Jesus to them?ABOUT THE AUTHORSam is an Assistant Minister, and is part of our Fairfield Morning congregation and our Arabic and Assyrian ministries.