GOSPEL READING:
Luke 21:12-1912 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be a time for you to bear testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; 17 you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Meditation: If the Gospel message is good news, then why
do so many people treat Christians with contempt and hostility for
their beliefs and practices? Jesus warns his followers that they
will be confronted with wickedness, false teaching, persecution,
as well as the temptation to renounce their faith when it is put
to the test.
Satan destroys and kills - God restores and
gives life
The real enemy of the Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ - is
Satan (also called Lucifer), the powerful leader of the fallen
angels who rebelled against God and who were cast out of heaven.
Satan opposes God and all who follow his rule of peace and
righteousness (moral goodness) on the earth. Jesus calls Satan a
"murderer" who turns brother against brother and the "father of
lies" who twists the truth and speaks falsehood (John 8:44). Satan
not only opposes God's rule, he seeks to destroy all who would
obey God. Satan will use any means possible to turn people away
from God. He tempts people through envy, deception, hatred, and
fear to provoke hostility towards those who follow the Lord Jesus
Christ.
What is Jesus' response to hostility and persecution? Love,
forbearance, and forgiveness. Only love - the love which is rooted
in God's great compassion and faithfulness - can overcome
prejudice, hatred, and envy. God's love purifies our heart and
mind of all that would divide and tear people apart. Knowing God
as our compassionate Father and loving God's word of truth and
righteousness (moral goodness) is essential for overcoming evil.
Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear those who would oppose
us or treat us harshly for following the Lord Jesus. He promises
to give us supernatural strength, wisdom, and courage as we take a
stand for our faith and witness to the truth and love of Christ.
The Gospel is good news for the whole world because it is God's
eternal word of truth, love, pardon, and salvation (being set free
from sin and evil) through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus
has won the victory for us through his atoning death on the cross
for our sins and his rising from the grave - his resurrection
power that brings abundant life and restoration for us. That is
why the Gospel has power to set people free from sin, fear and
death, and bring peace, pardon, and new life.
Endurance never gives up hope in God
Jesus tells his disciples that if they endure to the end they
will gain their lives - they will inherit abundant life and
lasting happiness with God. Endurance is an essential strength
which God gives to those who put their trust in him. Endurance is
the patience which never gives up hope, never yields to despair or
hatred. Patience is long-suffering because it looks beyond the
present difficulties and trials and sees the reward which comes to
those who persevere with hope and trust in God. That is why godly
endurance is more than human effort. It is first and foremost a
supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit which enables us to bear up
under any trial or temptation.
Endurance is linked with godly hope - the supernatural assurance
that we will see God face to face and inherit all the promises he
has made. Jesus is our supreme model and pioneer who endured the
cross for our sake (Hebrews 12:2). "God shows his love for us in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Jesus willingly shed his blood for us - to win for us pardon and
peace with God. Our joy and privilege is to take up our cross each
day to follow the Lord Jesus.
True martyrs live and die as witnesses of Christ and the
Gospel of peace
The word "martyr" in the New Testament Greek means "witness". The
Book of Revelation says that "Jesus was the faithful witness
...who freed us from our sins by his blood" (Revelation 1:5).
Tertullian, a second century lawyer who converted when he saw
Christians singing as they went out to die by the hands of their
persecutors, exclaimed: "The blood of the martyrs is seed." Their
blood is the seed of new Christians, the seed of the church.
The third century bishop, Cyprian said: "When persecution comes,
God's soldiers are put to the test, and heaven is open to martyrs.
We have not enlisted in an army to think of peace and to decline
battle, for we see that the Lord has taken first place in the
conflict." True martyrs live and die as witnesses of the Gospel.
They overcome their enemies through persevering hope and courage,
undying love and forbearance, kindness, goodness, and compassion.
God may call some of us to be martyrs who shed their blood for
bearing witness to Jesus Christ. But for most of us, our call is
to be 'dry' martyrs who bear testimony to the joy and power of the
Gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions,
temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the
Lord Jesus.
We do not need to fear our adversaries
What will attract others to the truth and power of the Gospel?
When they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in
suffering, patient in adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing
comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Jesus
tells us that we do not need to fear our adversaries. God will
give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial
and to answer any challenge to our faith. Are you ready to lay
down your life for Christ and to bear witness to the joy and
freedom of the Gospel?
Lord Jesus Christ, by your atoning death on the cross you have redeemed the world. Fill me with joyful hope, courage, and boldness to witness the truth of your love for sinners and your victory over the powers of sin, Satan, and death.
Psalm 119:33-40
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.
39 Turn away the reproach which I dread; for your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The faithful Christian is recognized by belief in the resurrection of the body, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"We should have no doubt that our mortal flesh also will rise
again at the end of the world... This is the Christian faith. This
is the Catholic faith. This is the apostolic faith. Believe Christ
when he says, 'Not a hair of your head shall perish' Putting aside
all unbelief, consider how valuable you are. How can our Redeemer
despise any person when he cannot despise a hair of that person's
head? How are we going to doubt that he intends to give eternal
life to our soul and body? He took on a soul and body in which to
die for us, which he laid down for us when he died and which he
took up again that we might not fear death." (excerpt
from Sermon 214.11-12)
