Troubles All-Around

I have never been in a horrible situation where I didn’t know if I would eat, gun bullets would kill me, or I would be taken as a hostage. But imagine those people in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Myanmar, Haiti, or Manipur. No safety whatsoever. Any time, their lives can be taken. They hunger for food, love, calmness, silence, peace, and tranquility. But they receive none of those.

Those would be the days for the disciples.

“Nations will rise against nations; kingdoms against kingdom; great earthquakes, famines will happen everywhere, including pestilences; terrors and great signs from heavens will haunt you” (Luke 21:10–11).

If those weren’t bad news enough, the Lord said that before those horrible news and days,

“You will be tossed into the hand of the persecutors, who will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, bring you before kings and leaders—all for my name’s sake” (21:12).

They would be hard-pressed on every side—from Gentiles and Jews. They would be persecuted because they followed Jesus.

The Lord, however, promised them good news:

“You’ll be my witnesses” (21:13).

Regardless of their sufferings and hardships, they would stand firm and be Jesus’s witnesses. They wouldn’t betray him. As such,

“Set your hearts not to contemplate what defense you would give because I will give your mouths the wisdom needed to withstand and defend everything thrown against you” (21:15).

This would have been a comfort to the disciples. They weren’t highly educated or social elites. But yet, they would withstand every scrutiny because Jesus would enable them (by the Spirit). Yet, they will have difficult times:

“You will be betrayed by your parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. They will hand you over to death. You will be hated by everyone, for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will be harmed. By your endurance, you will save your soul” (21:16–19).

The disciples would have difficult times and comfort from the Lord Jesus. They would be persecuted for his name’s sake, but he would protect them so they may not fall.

History has proven this. Although the disciples went through various persecutions, they survived. The gospel survived. The same is true of us. History again and again proves that Christians survive and flourish regardless of persecution. That’s the promise the Lord Jesus made. No one can destroy his church, his people!