Angie Benjamin

Brokenness and Faith {Matthew 1:1-2:23}

11:00 PM





The Genealogy of Jesus Christ- When God Uses Messed-up, Broken and Ordinary People
 {Matthew 1:1-17}

When I first discovered the genealogy was all the way to Joseph, the first thought that came to my mind was but...what? He's not really Jesus's father...as He's not the son of man, but digging into several books and commentaries I came to understand that in Matthew, the genealogy gives Jesus legal or royal lineage through Joseph and this was important for the audience this gospel was directed to.

In his gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as the King of the Jews, the long awaited Messiah. By telling the story of Jesus' genealogy,  Matthew gives us evidence that all points to the same inescapable conclusion: Christ is King. On the other hand, Luke records the genealogy of Mary (3:23-28) and BOTH Mary and Joseph were direct descendants of David.

Matthew also includes 5 women in his genealogy, so clearly he's not diminishing the role of women.

The women mentioned here are rather interesting:

-Tamar who had a sexual relationship with Judah, her father-in-law {Joshua 2;1}

-Ruth was a foreigner {Ruth 1:4}

-Bathsheba is identified here as Uriah's wife {1:6} but we must remember David's adultery with her and murder of Uriah.

-Rahab was a harlot {Joshua 2:1}

-Mary though she was a fine, godly woman, she had a problem of public reputation because of her pregnancy.

The genealogy shows how all the ancestors where both loyal and inclusive...and even from different backgrounds e.g. Tamar, Rahab and Ruth who were non-jews famous for their righteousness and devotion to God. This demonstrates that through the lineage of Jesus, no one is shut out from God's promise no matter their gender or background. God's people include more than one ethnic group or nation.

Also, in all these names we found broken, flawed people, "sinners", some faith-filled, some faithless, both MEN AND WOMEN, some willing and some disobedient, 

I truly believe Matthew included all these messed up and ordinary people to illustrate Gods grace-to give us all hope. To show us that God always accomplishes His will and most importantly He's always faithful to His promises.

If God used all these people in order to carry out His perfect plan, His most beautiful promise, Jesus, I can rest assured that my life also fits into his perfect will. He can take my flaws, brokenness and sins and use them for His glory!

God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plan.


Wise men from the East- Childlike Kind of Faith{Matthew 2 1-12}

The first twelve verses of Matthew chapter 2 narrate the story of the wise men who were eager to go and worship baby Jesus as soon as they saw the star in the East. We don’t know exactly where they came from nor how many of them there were when they arrived in Jerusalem. We do know from scripture that most our nativity scenes depict the wrong scene. The wise men did not meet Jesus in the manger, by the time they met Jesus, Jesus was probably 1 or 2 years old. Joseph and Mary were in a house in Bethlehem (v. 11). 

These wise men traveled thousands of miles just to meet the King of the Jews. When they finally found Him, they responded with worship, joy and gifts! How different and sad the approach most of us take today...We often want and wait for God to come looking for us, we want Him to explain Himself; proving who he is and yes...we want Him to give us gifts.

Today I want to be like those men...Wise! and seek and worship Jesus not for what I can get, but for who He is.

The gifts give by the Wise men are seen as symbols of Christ identity and what He would accomplish:

Gold: a gift for a King, Royalty
Incense: a gift for a deity
Myrrh: A spice for a person who was going to die.

After finding Jesus and worshiping Him, the wise men were warned by God to not return to Jerusalem as they intended, since Herod had lied. He did not want to worship Christ, he wanted the Wise men to reveal the location of the child to kill Him. This fact teaches us two lessons;

1.-Finding Jesus might mean a change of direction and plans

2.-It's very interesting how satan was afraid of a child, and how a child was the King of the Jews. Kings rule and maybe one lesson here is that if we desire to rule and reign as kings in life (For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!-Rom. 5:17 )  we must also become like little children.

Becoming childlike requires us to be humble, trusting, lowly and forgiven. I believe when we do so we frighten the devil just as the Christ child frightened Herod. We become a threat to the enemy when we become childlike in our faith.

To Ponder:

Are you willing, like the Wise men to drop everything you know and follow Jesus? Or are you expecting Jesus to find you and explain Himself to you? Are you willing to change direction and plans? Do you trust Jesus like a child does?

Becky Bramlett Austin

Breakfast With Jesus {John 21}

2:03 AM



By Becky Austin Bramlett


In the first part of this chapter, the resurrected Jesus appears to 7 of the disciples, which is the 3rd such appearing.   The disciples have been fishing through the night but have not caught any fish.  They are frustrated, tired and hungry.  Jesus calls to them tenderly, "Children, do you have any fish?"  He instructs them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and they are rewarded with so many fish that the net can hardly contain them. When they realize it is Jesus, they hasten to shore to find him waiting with a fire, some fish and bread. He asks them to bring some of their fish to prepare also.

What a compassionate picture of Jesus, coming to us as we are involved in our daily duties and showing concern.  Not only did Jesus provide fish but he also blessed the provision of the disciples hands. Sometimes he simply provides what we need with no effort on our part, and sometimes he gives us the instructions, and resources to bless our efforts and reward our labors. 



As they finish breakfast, Jesus has a very intimate and heart seeking conversation with Peter. 
3 times Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me?"  That 3rd inquiry "grieved" Peter for he had denied Jesus 3 times. Perhaps you too have painful memories of times that you feel you have failed Jesus.   But Jesus didn't want Peter to linger in his failures because he had work for Peter to do and he has the same work for us too.  Each time Peter declared his love for Jesus, He was told " then feed my sheep". Jesus doesn't want us to get bogged down in the past but realize we can make a difference in the future. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). 



We are the disciples of Jesus, his ambassadors on Earth.  Each new dawn we get opportunity to commune with Jesus.  Jesus longs to meet with us at the start of our day, provide nourishment through his Word, talk with us through prayer, and send us out into the world to make a difference. He is the God of new beginnings.  Shake the dust of yesterday off of your feet and start today fresh and empowered. 



Verses to reflect on:



“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’” (Lamentations 3:22-24).



“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).



“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).



“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (Psalm 40:3). 



Hope you start your day having breakfast with Jesus! 

John

Mary and the Mercy Seat {John 20}

11:30 PM

Mary and the Mercy Seat {John 20}


By Sue Desmarais

Once more there is so much that I’d like to point out from this one chapter, but I’d need several post to do an adequate job of it! Therefore, after careful consideration, I’ve decided to limit my post to two significant points found here, for I believe John purposely mentioned them, but they might be easily overlook by one who was not familiar with the Old Testament Law and the customs of that day.

The first is what Mary sees once peering in the tomb, but first allow me to give you a quick update leading up to that moment:

  • Mary Magdalene (and the other women) go to Jesus' tomb very early on the first day of the week.
  • They see that the stone that covered the opening was rolled away.
  • Mary (and the other women) run and tell Peter and John (referred to as "the other disciple whom Jesus loved") that someone has taken Jesus' body.
  • Peter and John run to the tomb. John arrives first, stoops down outside the tomb, looks and sees the linen bandages that had been used to wrap Jesus' body, but waits to go in.
  • Peter arrives after John, and he goes straight into the tomb. He sees and considers the linen wrappings and the handkerchief that was used to wrap Jesus' head.
  • John goes in, he sees and perceives what has happened, and he believes.
  • Peter and John leave.

(Did it strike you as odd that the angels didn’t appear to Peter and John? Yet John is the one who is describing the scene for us? More on that later)

Mary had followed them back to the tomb and is now left standing outside weeping.  She then peers into the tomb and sees two angels sitting, "the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."



You have to travel all the way back to Exodus 25:17-20, to God’s instructions to  Moses concerning how the mercy seat is to be made, to see the significance of how these angels are sitting.

““You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be..”
The two angels, one at each side, is the arrangement of the mercy seat. The mercy seat was located in the Holy of Holies area in the Temple where only the High Priest could enter once a year and sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat as an atonement for Israel’s sins.

It’s clear that Christ Jesus is our true mercy seat! Now, some of you may be wondering, if Jesus is the mercy seat, why when Mary saw these angels was Jesus resurrected body gone? I’m glad you asked; just look at what Hebrews 10:10-14 says, "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
Doesn’t that just make you want to shout, “Hallelujah!!”? Jesus was offered once as our propitiation for our sins; then was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). He wasn’t to remain a dead mercy seat; He was to become our living throne of grace in heaven! Isn’t that amazing!?
But hold on; there is one more thing I’d like to point out before I let you go and that is, why was Mary Magdalene the one to witness this and John the one to record it? Why a woman when women’s testimonies were not considered valid in the courts at that time, and why a woman with Mary Magdalene’s dark past; a woman who would have been considered an outcast by the religious community?
I thought J. Lee Grady summed it up better than I could:
1. There were two gardens. Man’s Fall occurred in the Garden of Eden—a place of intimate fellowship with God. After Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, the Lord cursed the ground and banished them from Paradise. On Resurrection Sunday, Christ appeared in a garden (John 19:41 says Joseph of Arimathea donated a garden tomb to Jesus) to remind us that now, because of His redemption, intimate fellowship with God is available again. Jesus reopened the doors to Eden.
2. There were two women. Sin entered the world when a serpent deceived the first woman, Eve. On Resurrection Sunday, after Christ had defeated Satan through His atoning death, Jesus appeared first to a woman—one who had previously been in bondage to Satan’s demons (see John 20:14). Mary Magdalene is the New Testament counterpart to Eve. Her life reminds us that Jesus offers us total deliverance from the bondage of our past. (Adapted from Fearless Daughters of the Bible by J. Lee Grady.)

Now would be a good time to shout, “Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus!”



John

Sound Familiar? {John 19}

11:30 PM




By Lisa Thayer

How many of you buy an item and never read the manual or instructions?  How often have you or someone you’ve known discovered that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure?  Why can’t we do what we’re told? 

We are now nearing the end of the 4th Gospel and I wonder if there are a few out there looking for something new; something you’ve never quite understood before.  How often do we read these stories of Jesus and never see anything new? Like it is the same ole story.  But are we truly reading it, or are we just skimming because it’s so familiar?

Yet, we are angry that the Jewish leaders don’t recognize who Jesus truly is.  He has performed miracle after miracle, and recited scripture to prove who He is.  And now Jesus is standing before Pilate and Pilate is growing more and more afraid, and he tries to set Jesus free (vs. 11-12).  Pilate could find no crime against Jesus.  He is even smug about the placard he places above Jesus on the cross, knowing it would embarrass the Jewish leaders and make them angry. 

Even the Roman solders did not do what they were command to do – break the victim’s legs.  They did do what they were not supposed to do – they pierced the Savior’s side!  Yes, they fulfilled the very Word of God (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7). 

As far as the record indicates, from the point of Jesus’ death, no unbeliever touched the body of Jesus.  God had prepared two high-ranking men to prepare for Jesus’ burial and place it in a proper tomb.

We know that Joseph of Arimathea was a rich and prominent member of the Jewish Council (Matt. 27:57; Mark 15:43).  He was also a good and righteous member of the believing minority of Jews who were praying for Messiah to come (Mark 15:43; Luke 2:25-38) and a disciple of Jesus Christ (John 19:38).  It was he who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus so he and his friend, Nicodemus could give Jesus a proper burial.

Why was the tomb so close to the place of execution?  Most pious Jews wanted to be buried in the Holy City.  A rich man like Joseph certainly could afford a better sight for his final resting place.  Just imagine going to pay your respects and having to listen to the curses and cries of criminals on crosses not far away (19:41).

Matthew, Luke and John all tell us that the tomb was new and had never been used.  It was “his [Joseph’s] own new tomb” (Matt. 27:60); he had hewn it out for himself.  Or did he?

“John informs us that Joseph was a “secret disciple for fear of the Jews.”  The Greek word translated “secretly” is a perfect passive participle and could be translated “having been secreted.”  In Matthew 13:35, this same verb form is translated “have been kept secret.”  In other words, Joseph was God’s “secret agent” in the Sanhedrin!  From the human standpoint, Joseph kept “under cover” because he feared the Jews (John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42), but from the divine standpoint, he was being protected so he could be available to bury the body of Jesus.”  (Warren Wiersbe)

We already met Nicodemus earlier in John and each time he is named, he is identified as the man who came to Jesus by night (John 3:1; 7:50-53).  But the man who started off with confusion at night (John 3), ended up with open confession in the daylight!  Nicodemus came out of the dark and into the light and with Joseph, and was not ashamed to publicly identify with Jesus Christ.  They even defiled themselves when they touched Jesus’ dead body and could not participate in Passover.  They had found the Lamb of God!

Doesn’t it seem to you that Joseph and Nicodemus carefully planned their activities at Calvary?  They certainly could not secure a tomb at the last minute, nor would they be able to purchase 65 pounds of costly spices so quickly during the Passover, when many merchants would not be doing business.  No sooner had Jesus died than Joseph went to Pilate and received permission to take the body.  Nicodemus stayed at the cross to make sure nothing happened to his Lord’s body.  These men had to work very quickly.  It was important to get the body safely away from the Romans and the Jewish leaders.

So how did these two men know to prepare for Jesus’ burial? 

When Nicodemus first visited Jesus, he was impressed with His miracles and His teachings, but he could not understand what it meant to be born again.  Where did Nicodemus go to find this meaning?  He had to search the Scriptures and ask God for guidance.

We recall in John 7:45-53 that Nicodemus boldly stood up and defended Jesus at a critical council meeting.  The rest of the religious leaders ridiculed him for thinking that a prophet could come out of Galilee!  “Look into it…”  And that is exactly what Nicodemus did.  It seems that Joseph joined Nicodemus and they were convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed Israel’s Messiah, the Son of God.

As these two men searched the Scriptures, they would have found the messianic prophecies and discovered many of them had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Certainly they would have seen Him as the “Lamb of God” and concluded that He would be sacrificed at Passover.  Jesus had already told Nicodemus that He would be “lifted up” (John 3:14), and this meant crucifixion.  Since the Passover lambs were slain about 3:00 p.m., these two men could know almost the exact time when God’s Lamb would die on the cross!  Just read Isaiah 53, especially verse 9. 

Joseph arranged to have the tomb hewn out, and the men gathered the cloths and spices needed for the burial.  They boldly identified with Christ at a time when He seemed like a failure and His cause was hopelessly defeated.  I mean, after all, as far as we know, John was the only disciple with Christ at the cross.


Back to my first question, why can’t we do what we’re told?  God has carefully given us detailed instructions. 

Forgiveness

The Sting of Betrayal {John 18}

6:07 AM



By Lisa Moore

"Et tu, Brute?"  Probably one of the most recognizable phrases from Literature.  It is Latin for, "Even you Brutus?", and is from the play "Julius Caesar" written by William Shakespeare.  These are the words Caesar utters while being stabbed to death, having seen his friend Brutus among the murderers.  Nothing hurts quite as deep as betrayal, and no one knows this better than Jesus.
 
John Chapter 18 opens with Jesus and His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus would face the ultimate betrayal by one whom He loved.  Judas Iscariot not only betrayed Christ, he also betrayed the rest of the disciples.  Men he ate, slept, and traveled with.  Men he called friends.  In some point in our lives, we all have felt the sting of betrayal.  We know the deep pain it causes, so we can have some understanding of how the disciples felt at seeing their teacher, their friend, and their Savior being arrested as a common criminal.  And knowing that this came by the hand of one who they called brother must have been a double blow.  We can relate to Peter who took up his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the slave of the high priest, in defense of his Master.  But even the brave Peter wasn't immune from the sin of betrayal.  

All of this got me thinking about the man Judas and the acts he committed.  In my pride I found myself saying, "There is no way I could ever do what Judas did!"  But am I really so different from him?  Is my heart truly haughty enough to believe that I am not capable of betraying the Savior I claim to love?  In my research, I ran across a few words about this very subject by Dr. Charles Stanley, and so loved them that I had to share.

"Judas Iscariot powerfully reminds us of the horrific possibilities within every human heart.  While he called Jesus "Rabbi", (Matt. 26:25-49), there is no record that he used the term "Lord".  Sadly, he shows us that we can claim allegiance to Christ without ever truly believing in Him as our Lord and Savior (Matt. 7:22,23).  This is the case with those who believe that Jesus was a good teacher but deny that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), or those who profess to know Him but do so only for their own gain.  Whatever his reason for handing over the Lord Jesus, we know that sin had so blinded Judas that he could not see the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He pridefully took matters into his own hands and later regretted all that he had done. (Matt. 27:3-5).  Judas' story of the betrayal still resonates, not only because of his evil kiss, (Luke 22:47,48), but also because we realize the wickedness of our own flesh."

In Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus prayed three times in that very same garden where He was arrested that if it were possible, God would remove the "cup" of the Cross from Him.  When God didn't, Jesus let nothing stand between Him and that cup.  Our Lord and Savior knew what Judas was about to do.  He knew that His time had come, and all that He was about to endure.  And in His amazing love for you and I, He went willingly.  In light of His precious gift, what kind of kiss do we give Jesus?  Do we go to church and with our minds say He is Lord but not with our hearts?  Do we call Him King only as a way to achieve our own thrones?  When I search my own heart, I am ashamed.  More times than I care to count I too have displayed behavior that I know could bring nothing but pain to the One who gave everything He had for me.  My actions have been nothing short of a betrayal to my Master.  But He loves me anyway.  He wants me anyway.  He joyfully calls me His own when I could never be worthy of Him.  And knowing Him has given me a joy and peace that although I do not deserve, am thankful for every day.  If you haven't, I pray that you too will accept His gift of love, pardon, and everlasting life.  Wont you let Him call you His own, and share in His glorious triumph on the Cross?

Jesus

Our Father’s Love is Revealed {John 17}

11:00 PM



By Mari Sandoval

Today we close an amazing week as we’ve become closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Ministry. On and on through this book (and this week) we’ve studied how Jesus taught His disciples with a living and loving example, and even at almost the very end of His Ministry, at the last Supper we read: “Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally)” (13:1); “5 Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.” (13:5); “14 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well. 15 For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.” (13:14-15) Imagine the impact of these last words to His disciples as a command to them… and to us, too! But there is also a wonderful promise in doing so: “If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].” (13:17)

I can imagine these men felt as if this was their “Graduation Day”! There were so many challenges to be met out there, but were they really prepared to conquer them on their own, without their Teacher and Lord?  Then Jesus continues encouraging them giving them words of HOPE and a FUTURE: “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (14:1-4) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [c]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.”

Over and over we find Jesus, encouraging as He teaches His disciples to be in UNITY, through His Love in them: “7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. 9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.” (15:7-11) Hearing these promises from Jesus must have been like fresh ointment to their weary heart!

“In that day you will not [need to] ask Me about anything. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name [as My representative], He will give you.” … “27 for the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father.”  (16:23, 27)

As Jesus finished this discourse, He raised His eyes to heaven and prayed out loud to His Father: this is His last teaching in the form of a prayer. Jesus begins with a petition for the glorification of the Father and the Son (vs. 1-5), after which He prays for the disciples gathered around Him, first describing their situation (vs. 6-11) and then praying that they be protected and sanctified by the Father (vs. 11-19). Jesus then prays for all who will become believers through the witness of the eleven, that they may share in the UNITY of the Father and the Son: “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.” (vs.20-24).



In the last verses Jesus prays for a UNITY founded in love. ” 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me”, “and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.” (vs. 23, 25-26).

 Jesus revealed the Love of the Father to us, through His love and obedience to Him (Heb. 5:7-12) The love the Father has for Jesus is the same love He has for us believers, indeed for the whole world (3:16)! “For "God is love" (1Jn 4:8, 16), and "there is only one love of God" The believers are to embody this love and thereby provide living proof of God's gracious character, which is his mercy, love and truth. They will be an advertisement, inviting people to join in this union with God. The love of God evident in the church is a revelation that there is a welcome awaiting those who will quit the rebellion and return home. Here is the missionary strategy of this Gospel--the community of disciples, indwelt with God's life and light and love, witnessing to the Father in the Son by the Spirit by word and deed, continuing to bear witness as the Son has done.“ (Brown 1970:772 – Bible Gateway)

 May this become a reality in our life, I pray in Jesus’s Name. Amen

Blessings!

Becky Bramlett Austin

When Trials Come, Take Heart {John 16}

12:00 AM




By Becky Bramlett Austin

We live in America, land of the free.  There is a church on almost every corner and we don't have to be afraid to declare our belief in Christ, read our Bibles or pray openly for one another.  We can freely meet together in church buildings, in each other's homes and even wear T- shirts, etc. that have printed scriptures on them or Christian symbols. We don't really know true persecution in this country for being a Christian, but that could change. In fact, Jesus put a lot of emphasis on warning the disciples that they could expect persecution because they believed in him.  As a believer in Christ, we must be prepared to face persecution too. The Bible portrays this persecution but it also portrays that we have God's help should we have to endure such trying circumstances.

Jesus reveals the source of persecution.  In Bible times, there would be rejection from the spiritual leaders who were zealous in their actions because they believed their hate was justified. Their hate, however,  would be a hate toward Jesus fueled by Satan and his deceptions.  They would in essence reject the love of God and fail to recognize their need of Jesus to save them from their sins.  Without the love of God in their hearts, their hatred toward the followers of Christ would be just as vindictive. 

“They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.”  (V2-3) It's sad that they think they serve God ( characterized by love) but in reality they are serving the Prince of Darkness ( characterized by hate).  No wonder Jesus pitied them.
So, the source of the persecution is in the spiritual realm, fueled by the "Prince of Darkness", the source of lies and hate. But, Jesus reveals that his followers will have spiritual help to endure this persecution. Jesus returns to the Father but the Holy Spirit is sent to Earth to indwell and empower us. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (V7) 

The Holy Spirit has an important role. “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:” (v8) This Spirit, in opposition to the spirit of darkness will be a spirit of light and truth, teaching and equipping us for spiritual battle. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (V13-14)

It amazes me to study about the changes in the disciples when the Holy Spirit came. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  What an amazing transformation from timid, fearful men in hiding to bold proclaimers of the gospel in spite of persecution.  Many of these disciples as well as other Christians in the Bible died as martyrs. 

It's not pleasant to deal with living in a world of evil and persecution but it's a reality that Jesus said we have to face and something he wants us to keep a spiritual view of. Interestingly, Jesus even placed a positive  perspective on persecution when he included it in the Beatitudes: BLESSED are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12) And in our reading today, he encouraged his disciples to focus on his return and a time when there would  be no more suffering or hatred but an abundant, never ending grace  He encouraged us all to remember that he has already overcome evil and to find comfort and hope in him.  

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”” (V33)

Honestly, persecution is not something I want to know.  But, I hope that if that circumstance comes my way, that I will embrace it with the same spiritual power and fortitude that the disciples had. I hope that I will keep an eternal perspective and not compromise my faith in a loving, all powerful God.  Oh, how this topic stirs within me a deep burning desire to be more consistent in my prayers for this country and the freedoms we so richly enjoy.