YOU KNEW THE JOB WAS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU TOOK IT

Around the year I was born (1968), Saturday morning cartoons featured such notables as George of the Jungle and Tom Slick. (Those were the days!) A man named Bill Scott voiced both of those lead characters (as well as Bullwinkle J. Moose) and, one of my favorites: Henry Cabot Henhouse III. 

Better known as "Super Chicken". 

As he fought crime alongside his trusty sidekick, Fred the Lion, Super Chicken often found it necessary to remind Fred - as the theme song put it - "Fred, if you're afraid, you'll have to overlook it. Besides you knew the job was dangerous when you took it."

That line, memorized some 40 odd years ago, came to mind as I was looking at Matthew chapter 10. 

At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus is laying out to the disciples just how dangerous their "job" was going to be. 

They were told to "preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near'" and "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons." (10:7)

Now, you would think a bunch of guys who were preaching that God's kingdom was near and who were healing people left and right would be welcomed by all, perhaps even treated like celebrities.

But Jesus warned them not to expect a hero's welcome. Here's what they could expect from this "dangerous job":

• Being turned away. (14)
• Speaking while others refused to listen. (14)
• Being sheep among wolves. (16)
• Getting handed over to local councils. (17)
• Receiving floggings in the synagogues. (17)
• Being brought before governors and kings. (18)
• Getting arrested. (19) 
• Having all men hate them. (22)
• Suffering persecution. (23)
• Hearing themselves called "Beelzebub". (25)
• And maybe even being put to death. (28)

If you are like me, you are wondering what the disciples are thinking as they hear this job description. 

Did they really ask, "Where do I sign up?"

Apparently so. They took the job, even having been firmly warned of the dangers. 

They must have seen something incredible and real and deep in Jesus that prompted them to lay down their own lives, huh?

Have you and I seen it yet?