Christ has indicated that the life of his witnesses, of Christians, may be difficult and hard. They will fare like sheep in the midst of wolves. They may face judges and find hardships even in their own faith communities. They may be threatened with death, hatred, and opposition—even from loved ones and blood relatives. Your life can become so difficult that it implies carrying your cross.

Christ already encouraged his disciples by promising them his Spirit in this kind of crisis, pointing them to eternal life (the salvation of their souls), to God’s fatherly care down to the smallest details of their lives, and to Christ’s own assertion that he will make their name be heard in heaven.

Finally, Christ gives this promise: when anyone gives you even the smallest evidence of a welcome, I will reward that person. It does not matter how unimportant you are yourself; you do not have to be a leading figure in the kingdom of God! Rest assured, just as God vouched for his prophets, for everyone who believes in him—and was thus declared righteous—so he will vouch all the more for those who now allow themselves to be sent out by him to proclaim the essence of God’s good news!