I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

John 14:1-4, Jesus speaking to His disciples

When I first became a follower of Jesus Christ, I came across this passage and was, admittedly, confused as to what Jesus was conveying to His disciples. However, as I began to study the Bible more seriously, and as I tried to understand this statement in the historical context in which it was spoken, it became quite clear as to the sobering message Jesus was giving.

The early church was made up, mostly, of Jews who accepted the reality of Jesus being the long awaited Messiah. Early in church history, those who converted to Christianity from the Jewish faith found themselves in a very precarious dilemma. Within a very short period of time, these early followers of Jesus were excommunicated from the synagogue, severely persecuted, and many were even executed for their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Thus, these words of Jesus proved to be true in the life of the early church.

But, is that the only thing Jesus was speaking of, or was there more. More, even for us today. We have all been shocked once again by the radical, militant actions of adherents to Islam. CBS news headline on Tuesday, April 23, was as follows:

ISIS claims responsibility for Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings

CBS Online News

This probably does not come as a huge shock to anyone, but let’s think of it in terms of the statement of Jesus quoted above. Could it be that the statement had more than just an immediate historical fulfillment? Could Jesus’ words have application to other historical periods of persecution of the church? Could it be that Jesus was not only predicting a time of persecution against His first followers, but multiple times scattered throughout the history of the church?

Why is it that these attacks were specifically aimed at Christians? Simple: Radical Islam is consumed with the desire to eradicate all Christians from the face of the earth, and they are doing it in the name of Allah, “God.” As Jesus said, “In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Could this contemporary persecution of Christians be a fulfillment of those sobering words?

That question brings me to the point of this blog. The answer to that question is found in the words of Jesus: “I have told you these to keep you from stumbling.” Jesus wants His followers to be aware of the fact that they will face persecution, and even execution, at the hands of those who reject Him and embrace a religion that is radically opposed to Him and His teachings. In the face of such severe, harsh treatment, Christians should continue to live lives of total commitment to Jesus Christ.

In the book of Revelation, John points to another time of extreme persecution against believers. Once again quoting Jesus, John records:

Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10 – The words of Jesus Christ to the church in Smyrna

Obviously the situation is vastly different, and the historical setting is far removed from that of these original statements of Jesus. However, the quote from Revelation states the same truth as that found in John 16:1-4, and it is here that Jesus is speaking about a future time of persecution against the church. And please note that in His words from Revelation, He encourages His followers to be “faithful until death.” How are we to understand this admonition? Is Jesus saying that we should be faithful until we die at a ripe old age? Or, is He saying that we should be faithful until our faith costs us our very life? I believe the statement encompasses both. Be faithful, even if we lose our life to those who oppose Jesus, His teachings, and His disciples.

Jesus has given us forewarning concerning those who hate Him, and thus, hate His followers. He has given us these warnings so that episodes of persecution will not catch us off-guard. I challenge each of us to examine our own hearts, and our own personal level of commitment to the teachings of our Lord and Master, and to be faithful to death.