Knowing The Word in Luke 21:10-19

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

21:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Comments

Before the end of the world there will be wars between nations and physical phenomena in nature. There will also be personal persecution of Jesus’ disciples. There will be trouble in the church and trouble in the world. The early church will experience opposition and persecution from the Jews and from political ruling authorities. Yet Jesus says because of the persecution they will have an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus and the gospel before powerful people. Is this the “silver-lining” of persecution?

As they are persecuted, Jesus will be with them and give them wise words to speak. These enemies will not be able to contradict what they say. However, that does not mean they will not be martyred. Persecution will begin within families and then spread. The world will hate the followers of Jesus as it hated Jesus himself. Jesus teaches that God is in control and his plans will persevere in spite of what they see and experience, for they have already been saved unto eternal life. Therefore, they can endure all hell breaking out around them. This, of course, did not make total sense to the disciples until the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus occurred and were understood.

Application

God’s plans can include difficult times for his children. It is not that he causes these events to happen, but he does allow things to happen as Jesus told his disciples. Yet difficult times come with a promise that God will never abandon us. Sometimes we need to look back to see where God was when we thought we had been abandoned. Have you ever experienced a time like this?

Prayer

Father in heaven, on earth we have a treasure in jars of clay, to show that your surpassing power belongs to you and not to us. We are sometimes afflicted, but not crushed. We can be perplexed, but not driven to despair. We can be persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Help us to live each day in a way that witnesses to the treasure of the gospel.