Jesus said to the Twelve:

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 26 Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, 30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 10:24-33 - World English Bible

In these verses from Matthew, Jesus addressed the worth of the disciple and the worth of his message. First consider the worth of the individual. Ancient society assessed value upon one's class and one's linage. A few did move up the society and economic ladder, but the vast majority remained static; one's worth, then, depended upon cultural pecking order and bragging rights. Here, one's linage came into play. One's ancestors and teachers gave one honor, simply because it gave him something to boast about. A disciple shared in the glory of his master, but never more than that.

If the reputation of a disciple could not transcend his master (unless he broke away from that master), then he could not add to the master's message, only clarify it, making clear what was confused (hidden), proclaiming opening (from the rooftops) what was spoken in private. In the case of Jesus, the faithful disciple gave glory to his Master by spreading the teaching of and about the Christ, so the Master should honor the disciple. The Christian disciple, then, had far more worth than birds that could be purchased to offer the sacrifice of the poor in the Temple. He add real worth because he evangelized and brought others to the Lord.

What is your worth as a Christian?