OUR FATHER WHOSE SON ENDURED PERSECUTION FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE BEING SAVED

Continuing with the preparation of His disciples for the reality of their mission, the Lord Jesus, in Mathew chapter  10 verses 21 - 26 explained the severity of the blowback they would encounter as they undertook the spreading of the gospel.

21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

The introduction to the gospel brings such stark divisions into any society such that even brothers hand their brothers over to inquisitors and fathers betray their children and children turn in their own parents to be executed.

Citizens of the kingdom of darkness will respond with revulsion to the announcement of the arrival of the kingdom of light and the messengers of the kingdom will be hated and hunted but the Lord tells his followers that those who suffer persecution and pressure without surrendering their faith even unto death will be saved.

The Lord Jesus gives them a pattern to follow when navigating the gauntlet of spreading the gospel as sheep among wolves. If persecution mounts in one city, move to the next and continue the mission there. The Lord assures His followers that they would not exhaust the available cities to flee to before the Son of Man appears.

The disciples were taught that students are not above their teacher and therefore, if their teacher is subjected to insults and denegrations, the students would be favoured to be equal to their teacher in this regard.

The Lord told His disciples not to fear those who seek to harm them because of the gospel because all things done in darkness will be revealed to all and the things that are concealed will be laid bare

Amen.

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