Read Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple,
how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As
for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be
left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this
be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And
he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and
say, ‘I am he!’a and, ‘The time is near!’b Do not go after
them.
9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will
not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will
be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will
be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this occurs, they will
arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and
prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So
make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for
I will give you wordsc and a wisdom that none of your
opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will
be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they
will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all
because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By your endurance you will gain your souls. [1]
Think
Jesus is speaking here about what will happen to Jerusalem
in 70AD; the temple will be destroyed.
But he points to the persecution that Christians will face – and even as
they are persecuted, they will be witnesses to God’s presence in every human
being.
Pray
Lord, where I am, Christianity is easier than it has been
for many, who have been locked up and persecuted on account of your name. Help me to appreciate the opportunity freedom
offers. As I share your good news with the world.
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