Dear Christian friends:

We all have various fears, and these fears may prevent us from doing somethings we really want to do. I know a person who wants to drive a car very much, but that person is afraid do do so. Think of the freedom and independence that person is forfeiting because of fear.

I am sure that we all want to be a brave and effective witnesses of Jesus Christ, but we are afraid often to do that witnessing. We all want the joy of winning others for Jesus, but for various reasons we are afraid to talk to others about our faith.

Jesus knows about our fears regarding witnessing. Here in our text, which is the Gospel Lesson for today, Jesus helps us to put aside our fears so that we can really be His witnesses.


One fear that we may have is that our witnessing will fail.

We might think: "If I talk to that person about Jesus, he will not understand. He will not believe. Perhaps he will laugh at me and reject me." We are foolish to have this fear because the Gospel is an offense to our proud human nature.

Before we can tell the good news of Jesus we must tell the bad news about us humans, that we are by nature lost and condemned sinners and can not be saved by our own efforts and that we can be saved only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is not politically correct and is very offensive to many people.

Jesus helps us put aside our fear of failure, at least to the extent that we can speak the truth.

In our text He implies that we do not really fail even when someone does not understand or refuses to believe as a result of our witnessing. Here Jesus reminded His disciples and He also reminds us that many to whom He witnessed also did not understand or believe in Him. He says, "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called "Beelzebub," how much more the members of his household?" (verses 24-25) Was Jesus a failure? Neither are we just because some or even many reject us and our witness. Jesus is really saying that we should expect rejection and not be dismayed when it happens.

In the end we shall be vindicated, proved right and those who rejected our witness will be proved grossly wrong and foolish. Jesus says in our text, "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that shall not be disclosed; nor hidden that shall not be made known." (verse 26) On the Judgment Day when Jesus is revealed in all His power and glory they will no longer laugh and mock. Then all the world will see who was right and who was wrong, who was wise and who was foolish, who was winning and who was losing, who was a success and who was a failure.

Think of Noah building that great ship far from the sea, how the wicked laughed and mocked at him and his preaching of repentance. But the laughing stopped when the rains came and the flood waters covered the mountains.

We are not to be timid in our witnessing but are to be confident and winsome. Jesus encourages us here in our text, saying, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs." (verse 27) Jesus has whispered His saving word into our ears, the words that everyone needs desperately to hear, although the words are offensive to proud self-righteous mankind. We are to think of ourselves as ambassadors of a great King, bringing His ultimatum to a rebellious people. To those who repent and believe His ultimatum is a "savior unto life" and to those who do not believe it is a "savior unto death". The judgment is taking place as we witness and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus says in the last chapter of Mark, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does mot believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15)

So, we really can't be a failure. We do what our Lord sends us to do, regardless of the results. We only fail when we don't go at all and don't witness when we have opportunity.

The second fear that Jesus addresses is the fear of physical death for our witnessing.

Perhaps we Christians who live here in the United States do not have this fear, but the twelve disciples had that fear, and with good reason. There Lord was killed for His witnessing and all of them later on were killed by the enemies of Jesus except John.

In other countries today some Christians have been killed for their witnessing and standing up against what is morally wrong. And it could happen here. When you burn down churches you are not far from burning church members. (Tell about Pilgrim, Deaf, L.A.) We need to be ready to risk our lives for the Gospel and for what is morally right. What good is a fireman, policeman or soldier who is unwilling to lay down his life for his community or nation. What good is a Christian who loves his life more than his Lord?

Jesus helps us put aside our fear of physical death. In our text He says, "Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (verse 28) We all fear bodily death, but it is not the worst thing that can happen to us. The worst thing is when both body and soul are destroyed in hell. The worst thing that can happen to someone is to die without faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and go into eternal death. Jesus puts aside our fear of bodily death by promising us eternal life. (John 6:40)

A third fear that we may have in witnessing is that we may lose material things.

We may fear doing Jesus' work may cost us money, pleasures or comforts. We might think, "I£ I give the tithe for the church, I will not have enough money left for food, clothes, etc." Or we might think, "If I witness of Jesus to my boss, he may not give me the promotion that I have been seeking."

Here in our text Jesus also helps us set aside this fear. He reminds us that His heavenly Father takes care of us at all times, especially when we have faith and do as he commands us.

He says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (verses 29-31) If we do Jesus’ work, God will not let us go hungry or without the other necessities of life. He is the great Provider. He wants us to trust in Him for all our bodily needs.

Conclusion: During the trying and difficult days of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln would frequently visit the hospitals to lift the spirits of the wounded soldiers. On one occasion he came upon a young man who was near death. The President asked him, "Is there anything I can do for you?" "Please write a letter to my mother," said the dying soldier who did not recognize his visitor. So Lincoln wrote down the words he feebly spoke. They were: "My dearest Mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won't recover. Don't sorrow too much for me. May God bless you and father. Kiss Mary and John for me." The President signed the letter for him and added this postscript: "Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln." The soldier asked to see the letter and was astonished to discover the identity of the one who had written it for him. “Are you really our President?" he asked. "Yes," replied Lincoln. "Now is there anything else I can do?" “Will you please hold my hand? I think it would help to see me through to the end." The President granted this request and also offered words of encouragement until the soldier's spirit slipped into the glory of the world beyond.

In our text Jesus assures His disciples that no matter what may come to then, God will be faithful to them to the end. He will always be with them in spirit and they need not fear anything the future may bring, especially as they faithfully witness for their Savior. This assurance is also for us who are His witnesses today.

Amen