Words of Grace – Aug. 4, 2016

Because Jesus had performed a miracle on the Sabbath day, the people began to persecute him and wanted to slay him.  His answer to them was, “My Father works hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).

When the people heard Jesus say this they wanted to kill him even more.  That was because he was professing “that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (v.18).

Jesus told his disciples that they would be persecuted like he was.  In John 15:20 he said to them:  “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, which is found in Matthew 5-7, Jesus said:  “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . for my sake” (5:11).  He assured them that, because their reward in heaven would be great, they should rejoice in persecution.  (v.12)

The apostle Paul, in the Second Epistle to Timothy, wrote about all the persecution he endured for the Lord.  Then he added that all who will live a godly life for Christ shall also “suffer persecution” (3:12).

We should follow the example of the first-century Christians.  They were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41).