SAFE FOR ALL ETERNITY!
9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Mark 13:9-13
Jesus warned that allegiance to Him would obliterate even the very closest family and friendship ties. Unfortunately, it would be religion that would attack faith. Jesus is “the stumbling stone and rock of offence.” People can be as religious as they like and it will not offend anyone, but to have a faith‑allegiance to Jesus calls down the wrath of the religious types on such people.
The name of Jesus represents His disposition and His yoke. To wear His name is to be an imitator of Jesus. Just as He offended the religious people of His day because who He was showed up their wickedness and greed, so it is at any time and anywhere. The animosity will run so deep that even the closest family ties will not be strong enough to sustain loyalty.
This warning must be seen against the backdrop of the Roman world where the Caesars made all the claims that applied to Jesus Christ alone. For believers to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, to be the only Saviour and peacemaker, undermined loyalty to Caesar and was treasonable and punishable by death. To acknowledge Jesus publicly was suicidal unless one was convinced of the truth. There was no such thing as “accepting Jesus as one’s personal Saviour”, signing a decision card or answering an altar call. The question was “Who is Lord and who do I worship?”
Jesus assured them that they would not be abandoned in such a situation. The Holy Spirit in them would provide them with irrefutable wisdom to bear witness to the truth. Even family members would turn traitor to save their own skins. How would they endure such betrayal? Once again, He reminded them that there is a bond that runs deeper and stronger than blood ties. To be connected to Jesus in a love relationship that will take us into eternity, will sustain us through the fiercest and most fiery tests in this life if we keep trusting and stay loyal to Him and to the truth. According to Paul and his experience, there is nothing anywhere, in any circumstances and at any time that can drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us. We are safe.