THE BEATITUDES:
Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted
We have seen the attitudes essential to become a child of God (Matthew 5:3-5), the hunger which should exist in the Christian (Matthew 5:6), and the works which identify the saved (Matthew 5:7-9). Now, consider the trials which God's people can expect:
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5;10)
Many who claim to be Christians have no clue what persecution is. To some, the church is nothing more than a social club, a place of fun and frolic. Folks choose this or that church because of the programs or amenities they offer. Personal comfort is a major consideration for some when deciding where to worship.
Friend, this is not what we see in the New Testament. People were added to the Lord's church to be saved from sin and to live for righteousness. It was made clear that their association to Christ, though an eternal blessing, also brought with it persecutions. Folks were not added to the Lord in the first century because of the entertainment; it was a life and death choice, both spiritually and physically in many instances. Jesus cautioned His apostles,
...If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. (John 15:20)
It did not take long. In Acts 4 & 5, the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel. In Acts 7 & 8, Stephen was put to death and others were scattered abroad due to persecutions. In Acts 14, Paul was stoned and left for dead by a mob from Antioch and Iconium who had followed him to Lystra. The apostle, returning through the very cities where he had met harsh persecutions, shared this message with the new converts to Christ:
We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
This same apostle, years later would write to Timothy, stating, "...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). Do you hear the expectation in Paul's statement? He did not suggest that it was possible that persecution would come, he identified it as a certainty.
Peter also spoke of trials which would come upon the faithful.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though soem strange thing happened to you... (1 Peter 4:12)
“...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
(2 Timothy 3:12)”
Again, there is a sense of expectation in the apostle's wording. Trials will come, if we are living faithful in Christ Jesus. Sometimes it will be from other religious people (Matthew 10:17; John 16:2); from unbelievers (Acts 14:4-6; 1 Peter 2:12), from governments (Acts 5:27-29; 12:1), from family members (Matthew 10:34-37), or even from one another (Matthew 24:10; 2 Timothy 4:16). Persecution will come.
What we must be certain of is that when we are persecuted, it is for the right reason. Peter reasoned,
...what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20)If we are persecuted, let it be "for righteousness' sake", not because we have done evil and are deserving of punishment.
Peter would later write in this same epistle:
...but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings... (1 Peter 4:13)and again,
...if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:16)and again,
...let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
Peter looked to the blessing which comes to those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. It is for such that the "kingdom of heaven" is reserved. This was Paul's message to the young Christians in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch as the battered apostle journeyed back through their region. This was the source of comfort which enables the child of God to persevere beyond the trials of this life, knowing the glory that awaits in the hereafter. Paul stated it this way:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
With such a wonderful blessing to look forward to, let us willingly endure trials and troubles, knowing that the Lord has heaven in store for us. Let us "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials...", for the Lord has "...the crown of life..." awaiting us (James 1:2, 12).
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
Where did Jesus cure the blind man? Was it in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-25) or was it outside the temple (John 9:1-6)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
The questioner makes the statement as though there were only one blind man healed by the Lord. The fact is that Jesus is spoken of healing several who were blind (11:5; 12:22; 15:30-31; 20:30; 21:14; Mark 8:22-23; 10:46-51; John 9:1-6). Is the blind man spoken of in Mark 8 the same blind man who is spoken of in John 9?
There are a number of details which distinguish these two events. The first, and most obvious is the very thing which the questioner seems to have a problem with: one blind man was in Bethsaida (in Galilee), while the other was at the temple (in Jerusalem, Judea). Any reasonable person would conclude that two different men are being spoken about. But let us continue to notice the differences in the two cases.
- The blind man whom Jesus met at the temple was blind from birth (John 9:1). We do not know how long the other man was blind.
- Jesus and his disciples happened upon the blind man in Jerusalem (John 9:1). It appears that others brought the blind man at Bethsaida to Jesus, begging Him to touch the man (Mark 8:22).
- Mark indicates that Jesus led the man out of the city before healing him (Mark 8:23). John makes no such statement.
- In one instance, Jesus spat on the ground and made a clay mixture (John 9:6). In the other, He spat on the man's eyes (Mark 8:23).
- In one case, the man was sent away to wash at a pool (John 9:7). In the other, the man was sent to his house (Mark 8:26).
These are two separate healings of two different blind men in two different towns. The details of the events reveal that they are not two accounts of the same event.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.