Matthew 19:28

The disciples discern a change – Jesus is talking more and more of his coming atoning death.  That disturbs them.  He knew that very well.  So he urged them to look into the future, into heaven, in fact.  “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne…”  He is there to welcome and reward us.

I may be wrong but up until these last few days before his death on the cross Jesus seldom spoke of “rewards.”  Now and again his parables spoke of rewards but that is about it. However, now, as the hour of the cross loomed large on the horizon Jesus speaks st length about rewards.

It began by the disciples asking Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you.  What then will there be for us?”  Then Jesus opened a marvelous door into the eternal future where he, as Son of Man, sits on his glorious throne, with the twelve disciples, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Without going into any more detail he said, “Anyone who has left house or brother or sisters of father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” v 29

What more can be said?  The one who call us will love us with all his love forever.  The love that saves us will reward us. We live by his grace.  If we seek rewards we seek amiss. When we seek to be near to Jesus, then all of God’s favor is ours, in this life and infinitely more in the life to come.