PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS
JOHN 16:1-4
Introduction:
Here the Lord gives the disciples some “wounding words in the notice he gives them of the troubles that were before them.” Here are also healing words in the comforts he gives to them for their support under the forth coming troubles, They were going to be persecuted, perhaps even killed for the cause of Christ.
I. WHY WAS THE LORD TELLING THE DISCIPLES ABOUT THE WORLD’S HATRED AND PERSECUTION?
A. To be forewarned is to be ready for the offence, v. 1; Matthew 11:6, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
1. They would be put out of the synagogue, v. 2; John 9:22, “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
2. They would be killed for the Lord’s sake, Matthew 24:9, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
B. The Lord’s warning was designed to take off the terror of persecution, v. 4; Luke 21:12, “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”
1. At first, they scourged them in their synagogues as a scorner of the law, Matthew 10:17, “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;”
2. Then they would be cast out as Samaritans, as heathen men and publicans,
3. Then they would kill some the Believers:
a. Stephen, Acts 7:59, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
b. James, Acts 12:2, “And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
c. And others, Acts 9:1-4, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
C. They think they are offering a service to God, Romans 10:2, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
II. THE WORLD WILL PERSECUTE THE LORD’S FOLLOWERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW JESUS
A. Many have knowledge of God, but not saving knowledge, Psalm 95:8-10, “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:”
1. The Jews had murmured against Moses at Rephidim, Exodus 17:2, “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?”
2. The incident at Meribah (strife) where Moses was to speak to the rock, Psalm 106:32, “They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:”
B. The knowledge that the disciples would be persecuted for their trust in the Lord strengthened them, Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
1. The apostles were honored to be suffering disgrace for the name of Christ, 1 Peter 4:14, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
2. Peter encouraged Christians to “rejoice” when they would “participate” in sufferings on behalf of Christ, 1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
c. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ results in joy with Christ, 1 Peter 1:6, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”
d. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ results in fellowship with Him, Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
e. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ results in being glorified with Him, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
f. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ results in reigning with Him, 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if we deny him , he also will deny us:”
CONCLUSION:
The Lord warned His disciple in order to prepare them for the future. That preparation gave that first church the determination to do God’s will. They rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for Him.
While persecution is relatively light here in America, it isn’t in our countries. If God chooses to have us suffer, will we be as determined to do God’s will as the early disciples were?