Persecution Ahead?

Blog Host: Steve Flores

Passage: Mark 13:11-20

This is a tough one to write. I’d much rather write about a more encouraging topic. Mark 13 begins with the disciples celebrating and admiring the temple they just walked out of – the building. Jesus redirects their thoughts and says something that was probably a little disturbing to take in, verse 2, “Do you see these buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” So, our passage today is part of a candid conversation between Jesus and his disciples when they asked Jesus what he meant by that comment. 

I don’t know what they expected to hear, but the future didn’t look promising – wars, earthquakes, famine, and beaten in synagogues. Then our passage today, verse 11, “And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

I wonder if they felt fear. I’m sure Jesus felt their fear knowing he’d face his own beatings and trial in the near future. We’re pretty comfortable in the United States when it comes to persecution. The most persecution we might face is being ignored, not invited, ridiculed, or even presumed strange and yet, for some that “persecution” results in silence.  But, that’s not what Jesus communicated his followers would face. So, the questions are:

* Do I have persecution-type faith (the type Jesus talked about)? 

* Am I fully surrendered to the cause of Jesus that in difficult circumstances (hatred, betrayal, beatings, famine, etc) I endure and not eject?”