But before all these things, they will seize you and persecute you , delivering you up to the synagogue and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”
Luke 21:12
Here, we see Jesus prophesying to His disciples of the persecution they will face for preaching the gospel . Even in the life of our master, our Lord Jesus Christ, we see how He was mocked , whipped, struck on the face, spat on , brought before Jewish council, stood before Pilate , before Herod and finally crucified.
Paul states some of the ways he faced persecution ,” Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods , once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.” 2 Corinthians 11:24,25.
Paul was beheaded in Rome.
The disciples of Christ Jesus withstood the various kind of persecutions, stood before and testified to rulers, and preached the gospel of Christ, the good news, setting the captives free and healing the sick in Jesus’ name, wherever they went!
See what Lord Jesus says on persecution in the sermon on the mount;
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be very glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12.
We as God’s children maybe facing persecution at various levels. I have had people talk ill of me for standing strong on the principles of Christ Jesus .
But how does the Bible say we have to react?
Matthew 5:12 says to rejoice for great is our reward in heaven ! Hallelujah!
In Jesus name, may the grace of God be released on you to live as living sacrifices to the Lord, being of one mind, compassionate , loving one another , gracious and kind , not repaying evil for evil , or curse for curse, but blessing, knowing that to this you are called , so that you may receive a blessing (1 peter 3:8,9).
Dr Deepthi Christus, AOJ