Persecution

 

PERSECUTION

Imagine you are in the market for a new car. You visit the dealer and the salesman who is showing you the latest model takes you for a test drive. As you turn out of the parking lot, he launches into his sales pitch: "Three hours in this car," he says, "and your back will be so out of joint, you will need physical therapy to walk upright again! The cost of repairs alone will put my children through college. And when you drive it down the street, every head will turn, because everyone who sees you will be laughing at you." Nobody who wanted to make a sale would say such a thing. It doesn't make much sense. Which makes you wonder what Jesus was thinking when he uttered this final beatitude in Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." If this is a sales pitch, it's not a very good one! But Jesus isn't making a sales pitch in this beatitude. He is offering a word of comfort to disciples who will be persecuted because of Him. He knows that no one, at least no normal person, likes being persecuted.

Jesus tells us we should rejoice over rejection. WHY?? Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted" verse 10. Then, in verse 11, he says, "Blessed are you." To those who are already suffering persecution, Jesus says, "Don't be discouraged;" to those who have yet to face persecution, He says, "Don't be surprised." In saying these things, Jesus serves notice to His disciples. Those who follow Him faithfully should expect to experience a measure of rejection. Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "Blessed are you "if" people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you." No, He said, "Blessed are you WHEN people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you." There is a tone of inevitability here. 

Jesus' words imply that opposition is an inescapable consequence of discipleship or following Him faithfully. How many times have you been rejected when sharing Jesus words from the Bible? How many times have people closed their ears and shook their head as if to say, you fool!? How many people do you know or have heard that talked behind your back? Who has openly made fun of you or indicated your "journey" through Christ is off-base? Who has ever made fun of you for your loyalty to God's Word as it is written? How many times have you had derogatory names yelled at you because you are a Christian? How many times have people accused you of judging them when you've simply repeated words that were written over 2,000 years ago by God Himself that they claim to be bunk, yet they will believe philosophies of Buddha spoken as far back as 483 BC? Perhaps there have even been others who defriended you on social media because you expressed your devotion to the scriptures? When people slam the proverbial door in your face, rejecting Biblical truths, they slam the door in Jesus' face, not yours. We must remember that! After all, you are not offering your truth, opinion, religion, philosophy, or ideology as various religions and new age philosophies do. In reality, they are rejecting God's truth and offer of salvation not any personal message of yours. " The sum of your word is truth" Psalm 119:160.  When you witness the Word of God and people get uncomfortable, it isn't really that person who is uneasy with you but a spirit within them that is uneasy and fearful of God's truth. People don't even realize they are prisoners of spirits within them. This is why we must forgive them because they are overcome by all sorts of angels of darkness who blind them just as we once were lost but now found.

Take heart! Jesus said the world would be this way. If people called Jesus the prince of demons, imagine what they will say about you. We shouldn't take it personally; we shouldn't grow discouraged. Jesus said those who are rejected for his sake should rejoice. In this sense, rejection is a mark of God's acceptance—evidence that people have caught a glimpse of Christ in us. Our faith doesn't necessarily make it any less painful. It's only natural for us to want to be accepted. But Jesus' point is clear: if we are faithful in following Christ, we can expect opposition and yes, persecution. It may even come from those who are closest to us. Rejection is a mark of blessing only when it is for the sake of righteousness: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness," Jesus says. When does Jesus say that insults, persecutions, and slander are a reason to rejoice? When it's for His sake! There is great reward, He says—but not here. There is acceptance—but not here. There is honor—but not here.

Those who are persecuted are not paid for their troubles, they are blessed. Verse 12 says, "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Jesus doesn't describe the nature of the reward, but He does offer proof. You know your reward is great because others have gone before you. Verse 12 goes on to say, "for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Conclusion: For most of us those who are persecuted this blog is a reminder that this world is not our home. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-