The Way of Endurance

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 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. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:10-19).

Jesus continued His description of the tumult and conflict that would occupy the world between His ascension and His return. Indeed, the world has been consumed by political and religious conflict, increasing natural disasters, and heartbreaking human suffering since Jesus returned to His Father. Whether these increasingly terrible conditions are stirred up by our relentless adversary Satan, or by our ever-pursuing Father to gain the attention of selfish and distracted humanity (note: great signs from heaven), Jesus wants His disciples in every age until He returns, to know the way of endurance.

We endure because our persecution is a witnessing opportunity. The proclamation of the gospel and growth of the church will always provoke resistance and conflict… “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Jesus promised that our dedication to living as His disciples and sharing His gospel will instigate opposition… “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you… But all these things they will do to you on account of my name” (John 15:18-21). The Spirit also affirms this inescapable truth… “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). As we grow in the faith, our reaction to persecution should increasingly mirror that of our Lord, who offered the gospel of forgiveness to those who persecuted Him… “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus wants us to turn persecution into promise by bearing witness to His saving grace when we are provoked because of Him.

We endure because our Helper strengthens us. The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus to see into the hearts of angry Pharisees and religious leaders… “Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, ‘Why do you question these things in your hearts?’” (Mark 2:8) will show us what’s in the hearts of our persecutors if we listen… “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Jesus promised the Spirit will show us how to respond to persecutors because the Spirit knows exactly what’s provoking their hearts and His anointed words can melt the hardest heart.

We endure because our endurance is leading us to real life. Jesus’ words sound contradictory… “some of you they will put to death” yet… “not a hair of your head will perish”. The resolution of this seeming contradiction is found in His closing words… “By your endurance you will gain your lives”. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that this earthly life is temporary and our perishable body will be exchanged for an imperishable one… “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). In Christ, all who endure this trying and temporal life will transition to eternal life… “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52), but we do not die… “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). Jesus wants us to look past today’s trials and stay focused on the promise of real life.

As we grow up into Christ, in an increasingly hostile and turbulent world, by His grace we learn…

The Way of Endurance.