28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Commending His disciples for remaining faithful to Him throughout His trials, Jesus speaks with an air of praise and applause towards His ragamuffin followers. Those disciples who continued on and stuck with Him, He recognizes tenderly coupled with kindness. Certainly they had disappointed Him with their lack of belief, their blunders, their weaknesses, their defect of duty and their presumptions yet He chooses to focus on the positive and acknowledges here only their acts of faithfulness and kindness – “You are those who have stood by me in my trials”.
“We find them guilty of many mistakes and weaknesses: yet their Master passes all by and forgets it. ‘You are those who have stood by me.’ Thus does He praise at parting, to show how willing He is to make the best of those whose hearts He knows to be upright with Him.” Matthew Henry
This, my friends, should bring us much hope! How many times have we blundered and defected; how many times have we been weak and shown a lack of faith; how many times have we run ahead often taking matters into our own hands – charting our own course? How many times? But God, who is so rich in mercy, who considers that we are but dust – sheep gone astray – blots the blunders with the blood and strengthens us with His encouraging affirming words.
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalms 103:11-14 (NIV)
Not all stayed to the end. When the teaching got tough, when the lessons were harder the followers became fewer. We find in John:
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:61-66 (NIV)
“Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war’s trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper ‘Curse God, and die’. Or he will attack your steadfastness; ‘What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let you lamp go out as the other virgins do’. Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: ‘Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times’. Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily into God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end.” C. H. Spurgeon
The recompense these disciples were to receive from Him far outweighed their sacrifices. Jesus had already made that abundantly clear to them:
27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matt 19:27-29 (NIV)
There is no such thing as outgiving God. God is no man’s debtor. As believers in Jesus, we will one day put down our swords and be partakers of all the joys and of all the pleasures that is the ultimate reward for our sufferings, services and faithfulness. Isaiah tells us:
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Isaiah 40:10 (NIV)
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 2 Tim 2:12 (NIV)