April 11
Bible Reading: John 15:18-25
John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
Their only crime? They were Christians telling others about Jesus. A group of Hindus gathered to teach them a lesson. They stripped the husband and wife of all their clothing, then they compelled the husband to carry his wife, piggie-back style, down a path. Along the way, the tormentors goaded the couple with sticks and shouted derogatory and angry words at them. Eventually, the husband grew weary and collapsed to the ground, so they demanded that the wife then carry her husband on her back. The crowd laughed as the wife struggled to bear her husband’s weight. She managed to carry him for a short distance until she collapsed too. In being persecuted for Jesus’ sake, they both walked along a well-worn pathway.
Jesus warned His disciples that they would face persecution. And with all that Jesus taught, what He said was born out in their experience. From its earliest days, the church met with opposition and persecution. Of the eleven who heard Jesus’ warning, ten suffered martyrdoms. The writer of this gospel account was himself exiled to the isle of Patmos, as an elderly man, “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). Despite such opposition, the message of gospel continued to spread. Indeed, as Tertullian (an early church father), once said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
According to Open Doors ministry, “More than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.” In 2023, persecutors murdered nearly 5,000 Christians and attacked 15,000 churches and Christian properties. The persecution has been and will be just as Jesus foretold. But its loving devotion of Jesus that leads His followers to follow in His steps.
Echoing Jesus’ words, the Apostle Peter said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). He also offered these words of encouragement to those suffering persecution: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” -2 Timothy 3:12
AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follow’r of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith’s discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of vict’ry through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
LookingtoJesus 