Jesus suffered and was persecuted

When he came to his own people, sent by God, they did not receive him. He was rejected. He was ridiculed. He was abused. The religious leaders of the established religious community plotted against him, tortured him and finally killed him in the most painful way. This was done to him after an unjust trial with invalid charges, false witnesses, no jury, no defence and no mercy.

This bad treatment of our Lord Jesus Christ was predicted by the prophets of God who could see in the Spirit what sinful men would do to the Messiah. Inspired by the Spirit they described the sufferings and the persecution he went through.

Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:20-21

I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:6

The disciples of Jesus were persecuted.

The first martyr in the early church was a devout leader among the Greek-speaking believers in Jerusalem. His name was Stephen. He was full of faith and power, and he did great wonders and signs among the people. Some evil men stirred up the people who seized him and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who brought false charges against him. Stephen boldly proclaimed the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of the people and he confronted Christ’s murderers. The people became so angry with him that they stoned him to death (Read the full story in Acts 6-7).

At that time a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem. Because of that the believers were scattered throughout the surrounding regions. Those who were scattered because of the persecution did not quit. In fact, they went everywhere preaching the good news about forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ. As more and more people believed in Christ and repented from their sinful lifestyle, the believers faced opposition and harsh persecution throughout the Roman Empire. In spite of the difficulties the believers had to put up with, their numbers constantly increased.

The apostle Paul was persecuted terribly throughout his entire ministry. This is the way he described some of his sufferings for Christ:

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made like the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

I suffered imprisonments, being subjected to countless beatings, being at death’s door many time. Five times have I received, at the hands of the Jews, the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. 2 Corinthians 11:23-25

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church! Persecution will never stop the advance of the Kingdom of God!

Believers today must expect persecution!

In all ages believers have suffered persecution and died for following Christ. Since the death of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, 43,000,000 Christians have become martyrs. More than half of these were in the last century alone! Today many believers face persecution for their faith particularly in North Korea, China, India and Muslim states like Sudan and Saudi Arabia. Most of the persecution comes from people whose world-view and power-base is threatened by the increasing number of Spirit-filled believers living together in covenant love. This is in accordance with the words of Jesus as he prepared his disciples for what might come:

No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also (John 15:20).

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

As suffering believers in Christ we always need to remember that we are the fellows of the prophets who were persecuted before us (Matthew 5:12). If the world hates us, we know that it first hated Jesus. "No servant is greater than his master." If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute His disciples also (John 15:18,20). Since we have left the kingdom of sin and darkness and been translated into the Kingdom of God which is the kingdom of light and righteousness, it is inevitable that we will be persecuted by the world in one way or another, as the apostle Paul states:

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

Exercise

What kind of suffering and persecution did our Lord Jesus Christ go through?

How was the apostle Paul persecuted?

Why must believers today expect persecution?

Memorise this portion of Scripture:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans (8:35-39)