Scripture Daily

Context No. 3870 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 21:7-18: in context

7They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” 8He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. 9When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18And not a hair of your head will perish.

Jesus warns his disciples about the troubled times ahead, wars, disasters, and persecution, and tells them not to be terrified or led astray by those who claim the end has come. Then he turns to their own trials: they will be arrested and persecuted, brought before rulers, even betrayed by family, for his name's sake.

But he frames it all with promises. This will be your opportunity to bear witness, he says; do not prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that none of your adversaries can withstand. And, mysteriously, not a hair of your head will perish. Two things stand out. Persecution and trial, hard as they are, become occasions for testimony; what looks like disaster God turns into a chance to witness. And through it all, Christ's people are held safe in a deeper way; even if some are put to death, not a hair of your head will perish, for their true life is secure in him. We can face opposition without terror, trusting Christ to give us the words and to keep us safe in the way that matters.

When trials and opposition come for my faith, do I trust Christ to give me the words to bear witness and to keep my true life secure, so that I can face them without terror?

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