Luke 21:12

New Testament believers considered persecution for the name of Jesus almost a privilege. There is no shame if one suffers as a Christian rather it is a source of blessedness and praise because it identifies the bearer with the sufferings of Christ – marking them, so to speak, as belonging to Jesus. In Acts we find a fleshed out example of our verse for today. Peter and the other apostles had been placed in prison by the Sanhedrin for proclaiming the message of Christ. Furious, the Sanhedrin wanted to put these men to death yet because of fear of the people and the wise counsel of Gamaliel, they instead had them flogged – a bloody beating which left them rejoicing. The following is their response to this incident:

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:41-42 (NIV)

Kind of makes our whining over the trivial a mute point does it not? Peter gives us the following advice having practiced what he preached:

16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:16 (NIV)

Earlier in this same Book Peter states:

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:20-23 (NIV)

We rarely hear this preached from the pulpits because, quite frankly, suffering does not seem very palatable. Yet Jesus tells us that we are to expect it:

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

“It has been the lot of Christ’s disciples to have more or less trouble in this world. Men persecute them because they are so good, and God corrects them because they are no better. So between both they will have trouble.” Matthew Henry

Troubles we are promised and peace we are ensured. Almost seems oxymoronic does it not? How is it possible for one to experience peace during tribulations particularly in light of the following definition of trouble?

The word translated “trouble” in John 16:33 is from the Greek word “Thlipsis” meaning: “to crush, press, compress, squeeze. Tribulation, trouble, affliction. Thlipsis conveys the picture of something being crushed, pressed, or squeezed as from a great weight. It is used to denote grievous physical affliction, or mental and spiritual distress.” New Testament Lexical Aids – Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible.

The answer lies in the power of Christ in a life and where we choose to place our focus during the trial. It is easy to be filled with self-pity, placing our gaze on self – filling our mouths with “woe is me” and “it is not fair”! That’s what comes natural to us. It is when our focus is on Jesus and what He desires to accomplish through this trial – whether we know specifically what that is or not, we know from the promise of Romans 8:28-29 that it is for our ultimate good - that we discover His supernatural perfect peace regardless of our circumstances. Jesus tells us:

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)

Paul and Barnabas encouraged the new believers experiencing such tribulations:

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. Acts 14:21-22 (NIV)

Just like the believers in the New Testament times, our warning of tribulation is certain yet our hope is in the abiding peace of Christ throughout the trial and the joyful anticipation of entering the Kingdom of God. Who among us can say we are without tribulations? We live in a fallen world we should expect it:

“Every real Christian must expect persecution from the world; and though he should take heed of giving needless offence by self-will or rash conduct of any kind, yet should he not seek to shun the cross by what some men call prudence, or a sneaking compliance with the world, but be willing to suffer everything rather than to hurt the cause of God in the least. We should openly confess Christ our Lord, and not mind being called fools by the wicked, as we know that at last they will call themselves by that name: therefore care not for the approbation and praise of the world; but count it a great honour to bear the reproach of Christ.” K. H. Von Bogatzky

Elisabeth Elliot , no stranger to suffering having buried two husbands – one martyred for the cause of Christ and one due to cancer – writes the following on suffering:

“I have come to see it is through the deepest sufferings that God has taught me the deepest lessons. If we trust Him for it, we can come to the unshakable assurance that He is in charge, that He has a loving purpose, and He can transform something terrible into something wonderful. Suffering is never for nothing...To my amazement and delight, I discovered that the word for burden in Hebrew is the same word for gift. This is a transforming truth to me. If I thank God for the very thing which is killing me, I can begin dimly and faintly to see it as a gift. I can realize that it is through that very thing which is so far from being what I would have chosen, that God wants to teach me the way of salvation. I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will say, ‘yes, Lord.’ And I will say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’”