I am sure we all remember Jonathan, who was not willing to share David’s rejection. Onesiphorus
is a name th will live to all eternity, as one who not only was willing to share the rejection and
reproach of Christ, but who very diligently sought out Paul, and found him, when he was the
prisoner of Nero, chained in a Roman dungeon. From that dungeon h e writes:"This thou
knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me." (2 Tim. 1:15). At his first
answer before Nero, no man stood with him:"but all forsook me", the apostle writes. Only Luke
was with him of all his beloved fellow-laborers. They were dark days indeed.

It was in these dark days that Onesiphorus came to Rome from Ephesus. The apostle writes:"he
sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of
the Lord in that day:and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest
very well." (2 Tim. l:l6-l8), How refreshing it is to find one whose love and loyalty stood the test:
one who was willing to share the rejection and danger of the old apostle; and as he shared Paul’s
rejection, he was also sharing the rejection and reproach of Christ.

Let us now consider the Household of Onesiphorus. The Apostle writes:"The Lord give mercy
unto the house of Onesiphorus" (2 Tim. 1:16), and again, "Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus" (2 Tim.4:19).The whole household is linked up with the loyalty of its
head:the whole household is especially commended to the mercy of the Lord for Onesiphorus’
loyal and loving heart. Like Ittai of old, the whole household shared the rejection with its head.
May it be so indeed in our households!