” God Speaks Spiritually Through Jesus To Us”

       Jesus continues to voice His l discussion concerning the persecution they will face as His disciples. He explains His reason for telling them of these things was that when the persecutions come the would not stumble. Later God's word Paul would explain,"2 Timothy 3:12-17: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. {1 Peter 4:12-18:  And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comes, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.}The opening line of 1 Peter identifies it as a letter from “ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…” . At first blush, the wording suggests that Peter is addressing ethnically Jewish followers of Jesus. We see the Lord Jesus in it all.

       It is common today to think that if Christians are being mistreated or persecuted in our day it is a "strange thing." Yet, all around the world Christians are being persecuted and murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ. It has been going on for two thousand years and will continue until the Lord returns. American's have been spared physical persecutions until now, but today believers are shunned, ridiculed and even despized for their faith. That does not mean all Christians, but it means the ones who believe God's word and live by it. That is what Peter told Timothy. There is a powerful asserted effort in America to remove anything biblical Christian teaching or symbols from society. These forces who hate God and the Lord Jesus are rapidly gaining influence and power. It will be soon when the discrimination will become violate and oppressive. Why? People don't want to learn what is so simple! They have only two chioices! 1. Walk in righteousness! 2. Walk as fools and do wrong. What is so simple gets scattered all around like a bunch of falling thumb tacks that someone comes along barefoot, step on them and stumbles! Instead of picking up those thumbtacks and putting them back in the box, they choose to be froward "dificult to deal with! Makes no sense to me to do wrong instead of right. Get the picture?

       Jesus had explained to His disciple He was leaving and even though He would be resurrected showing beyond all doubt He was the Lord Jesus, Messiah, King of the Jews. So  most of the Jews would reject Him. They would not just not believe, but would attack any who did believe and follow the Lord Jesus. He explained the degree of the persecution would include putting them out of the Jewish synagogues and in time they killing believers. It was a serious matter to remove from the synagogue and had the effect of excommunications. The act supposedly cut them off from God, but did cut the Jews off socially from their families and friends. Today the cults practice the same procedure including the Roman Catholic church. It then becomes a matter of one's dedication and commitment to the Lord to continue uphold one's profession of faith in the face of such opposition. God is with you every moment, whereas you can worship Him always! Jesus states these who are so dedicated in their opposition of the Lord Jesus are not saved. They do not know the Lord and persecute true believers in God's name. Paul encouraged the Philippians who were suffering for their faith saying, "For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" {Philippians 1:29:  Paul exhorted Timothy to command and teach this truth to his congregation, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." {1 Timothy 4:9-10}. "But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asked me, Whither goes thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." (John 16:4-6)

       It is not likely the disciple fully understood what the Lord was telling them, but He explains that later when the persecution came they would remember. The next sentence may give some light on the fact that until now the disciples were not being targeted by the Jewish leaders. Jesus said He had not told them of these things before because He was with them. It seems to imply that He was protecting them up to the point. Peter had asked earlier in John 13:36 where the Lord the Lord was going, but the Lord did not explain. The Lord's statement about why they were not asking where He was going showed they did not understand that He was leaving and going to heaven. In John 13:36 Peter's question amounted to asking the Lord where on earth or Israel was He going. He said plainly in John 14:1-4 He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them. Could it be they did not understand He was referring to heaven then and not some place on earth which would be part of the promised kingdom? They were effected by His statements. It seems this truth of His leaving had now clicked  in mind and they accepted He was truly leaving. It seems they did not understand where He was going.