Years ago I was staying in an hotel in Reims, France. It was summer and everybody was out enjoying the fine weather in one of the many sidewalk patios. The at a certain hour thousands of sparrows descended on the many trees along the sidewalk. I remember vividly their chirping and chattering as they got ready for the night.
After spending considerable time teaching his disciples all about the Kingdom, he sent them out for the first time on their own to preach the good news “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Mat 10:7)
He also gave them authority to be able to heal and drive out demons. They were excited at this opportunity! What they were going to be able to do was spectacular, quite unheard of. They were even more excited when they came back and reported that even the demons obeyed them!
Jesus goes on to tell them that they would be arrested, flogged, betrayed, go into exile, killed and worse. People would hate you. He was actually talking to us living in “that time” as we saw in the previous post that Zechariah spoke about in Zech 14. The anti-christ (the one who does not wat to see the kingdom established i.e. against the anointed) will pull out all the stops the prevent Jesus coming back and to stop those testifying about the kingdom.
“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Mat 10:30-31)
People considered sparrows to be of little value you could buy two for a penny on the market. But to God they are worth a lot.
Father cares about sparrows, he created them, and enjoys their chirping and chattering. In the same way he loves us, to the point where he knows how many hairs we have on our heads. Being willing to testify about kingdom and about Jesus being the anointed king, even in spite of threats and persecution is worth an immeasurable amount to him. Whatever happens to us, even if we pay with our lives, he cares for us and he will heal us and raise us from the dead if needed, and we will be in the kingdom.