A Servant Endures Persecution

I don’t know about you, but does this Beatitude seem out of place to you, especially on the heels of the last one about peacemaking? But, it is not misplaced, because mistreatment often comes upon those who do what is right. Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “You are blessed if people insult you,” rather Jesus said, “when…” We might ask: Why would anyone want to persecute Jesus or his followers? Why would anyone want to hurt the kind of person characterized by these Beatitudes? It is certainly perplexing, but nonetheless it is true – people who take godliness seriously are likely to find themselves facing serious opposition.

It is important to clarify that not every Christian who suffers persecution can claim that they are being persecuted for righteousness. It is possible for Christians to be persecuted for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with righteousness, and in such cases, they may be getting what they deserve. These verses do not say, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are odd.” These verses do not say, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are obnoxious.” These verses do not say, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are self-righteous.” (Holier-than-thou attitude)

• Truth is: we can bring persecution upon ourselves simply by acting foolishly, not spiritually. The blessing Jesus pronounces here isn’t for disciples who have been persecuted for any reason, but for those who have been persecuted “because of righteousness” (vs. 10) or better yet “because of me (Jesus)” (vs. 11).

So who are those who persecute followers of Jesus?

• Disciples of Jesus are often persecuted by unbelievers – those unbelievers may be co-workers, schoolmates, and neighbors. Additionally, government oppressors persecute Christians, more so in other countries than ours. However, in the culture war in our own country, Christianity is made to look foolish, and the followers of Christianity are usually portrayed in a negative light. I don’t want to downplay the world’s eagerness to hurt those who would follow Jesus, because persecution can and does come from unbelievers, but the bad news I must break to you is that persecution is frequently an inside job and originates a little closer to home.

Jesus was persecuted by His own biological family and He was persecuted by the spiritual leaders of His own religious group, the Jews. Hard as it may be to accept, the persecution we are called to endure will sometimes be at the hands of people we know, people we worship with, and people who also claim to be religious. The person behind our persecution may well be someone we thought was a friend. The source of that slanderous remark or gossipy tidbit may turn out to be someone we trusted. So we can expect that persecution will come not just from strangers, but we can also expect that the ones who break our hearts, may be ones with whom we break bread. Nevertheless, we must not let those who persecute us, whomever they are, cause us to quit following our God and Savior.

There are times when the only way servants can make it through such severe times of persecution without becoming bitter is by focusing on the ultimate rewards that are promised. The question for us disciples is not whether we will be persecuted, but how we will respond when it occurs. There are three options for us in the face of persecution.

1. First, we can back down – which is what our persecutors want to see happen.
2. Second, we can retaliate and try to make them pay for the pain they are causing us, which is not God’s will for us.
3. Or third, we can rejoice and be glad – which is Jesus’ prescription.

Persecution is never fun and the physical agonies or the agonies of insult and rejection are no laughing matter. When Jesus told us to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted, He was not trying to trivialize our pain or to be absurd. What He was saying is that persecution is both a validation and an opportunity. We Christians can rejoice when persecuted because the suffering says something about our character and provides a chance for our character to shine most brightly. And we can rejoice in the face of persecution because great will be our reward in heaven. When we suffer for Christ, then we are in good company and our reward will be great.

Conclusion:

1. I hope in these last two sermons we have been able to dim the surrounding lights and focus our attention on the portrait of a servant that Jesus has painted.
2. Notice Jesus’ expert brush strokes and the creative colors He has employed.
3. A servant is poor in spirit (humble).
4. A servant is one who mourns (able to feel pain and compassion).
5. A servant is meek (gentle and kind).
6. A servant hungers and thirsts for righteousness (passion for holiness and justice).
7. A servant is merciful (forgives and helps).
8. A servant is pure in heart (honest and authentic).
9. A servant is a peacemaker (restores relationships).
10. A servant endures persecution (never gives up).
11. The person who serves in these ways is truly happy and is and will be blessed beyond imagination.
12. Blessed are the servants of God, for they will receive God’s promises.