Persecution Continues!

             From very early in His ministry, Jesus lived under a cloud of persecution.  When He healed a man on the Sabbath, the Jews challenged the action as a violation of the law.  As He declared His relationship with His Father, the plot to kill Him began to take place (John 5: 9 – 18).  They grumbled about His family tree (John 6: 41 – 42) and waited for an opportunity to take His life (John 7: 1).

            My question is why?  What was there about Jesus that caused the Jewish leaders to pursue a murderous plot against Him?

            First, the response of the people probably made the leaders pause.  Many of the people became believers—even some Samaritans!  Many saw Him as a good man and marveled at His teaching ability.  Some even thought that the leaders’ silence might be an indication that they thought He was the Messiah (John 7: 26).  The Jewish leaders were not about to surrender their power and control to this “nobody” from Galilee.

            Then, there was the charge of blasphemy.  After all, Jesus did refer to God as “my” Father.  To the Jewish leaders that was equating Himself with God, something no human should do.  Of course, they ignored the fact that they often tried to supersede the power of God by creating their own rules and regulations that they expected the people to follow.

            Perhaps, the main reason for their plot against Christ was their fear of losing their position.  Power and greed have long been the keys to the reasons for leaders’ actions.  The Jewish leaders were so consumed with the threat to their rule over the people, that they couldn’t even consider the fact that Jesus might be the Messiah. 

            Today, that same struggle for power and money has resulted in the persecution of Christians around the world.  When Christians display peace and happiness in the most miserable conditions, their leaders, or more appropriately, their captors don’t know how to deal with them.  Like the Pharisees, their only response is persecution.  Yet, like Christ, the Christians continue to advance the Gospel.

            The number of persecuted Christians grows daily.  Some live in shadows, boldly but shrewdly sharing the Gospel with their fellow citizens.  Some languish in jails, in miserable conditions, and with no contact with friends or family.  Some go to their deaths proclaiming the name of Christ.  Often, their captors’ lives are changed by the faith that the persecuted Christians display.

            We are blessed to live in a country where freedom of religion is allowed by law.  That privilege does not allow us to forget our brothers and sisters around the world who do not have the same luxury.  Like Christ, they are constantly hunted and persecuted.  It is our responsibility to pray daily for the Persecuted Church.

            Pray that they will be bold in the spread of the Gospel.

            Pray that they will find their strength and their hope in Christ.

            Pray that, no matter the circumstances, they will have all they need.

            Pray that they will feel the presence of God with them

            Pray that they will stand strong to the very end, knowing that the crown of glory awaits them.

            Pray! Pray! Pray!

I Corinthians 12: 26

Hebrews 13: 3

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