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As we read the headlines today we invariably find references to protests involving the nation of Israel. The fact is that the Jewish people have been a target for protests and persecution since they were established as a people in the book of Genesis. When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount he was addressing an audience primarily made up of Jews. Unsurprisingly, they were facing persecution even as he spoke.
The Jews were persecuted by the occupying Roman government. Rome demanded exorbitant taxes and seized land and property, at times forcing people into slavery. They desecrated the Jewish holy sites like the Temple and the city of Jerusalem itself. Pilate was known for ambushing and killing a “great number” of Jewish people on the Temple grounds who were protesting Pilate’s use of Temple funds to build an aqueduct.
The Jews also faced ostracization from non-Jews because of their strange religious practices like Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions, and circumcision. They were different from the other people from other lands and, hence, the target of ridicule and derision.
So when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,” he was preaching to the choir. They knew persecution; and the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven being theirs was sweet music to their ears. It wasn’t retribution for the persecution that Jesus was preaching, but eternal joy and blessedness that would far surpass all of the persecution any of them would encounter on earth. Their reward was to be in Heaven.
The Apostles lived out this “persecution to heavenly reward” attitude. We see them being beaten for their faith and they rejoiced. We see them facing hardships from hard people and they pressed on to the high calling of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, in following the instruction of our Lord and the example of the Apostles, how should we react when we are attacked for all the right reasons?
1. Rejoice – You have been successful in irritating Satan. Your reward awaits you in heaven.
2. Reflect – You’re not alone – prophets before, Jesus here on earth, martyrs today. You were promised trouble.
3. Pray – Make sure you’re in alignment with God.
4. Preach – Boldly go and proclaim the truth of the Gospel. Boldly go and minister in the name of Christ. Boldly do the things Satan hates including laughing at his lame attempts to dislodge you from your faith in Jesus.
Excerpt from “When You Are Attacked for All the Right Reasons“ – a Bible Study Session from the series Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount, the video of which can be seen in full at https://youtu.be/ZfLvY2l7w9E