Mark wrote how Jesus, “sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately. Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be you not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nine of his book, Mark shared how Jesus told His disciples, “take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you shall be beaten: and you shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake” where we read:
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you shall be beaten: and you shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
The verse reads, “But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you shall be beaten:” Mark began with the words, “But take heed” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and beware, discern, perceive, observe and understand” “to yourselves” or “to the disciples' own selves”: “for they shall deliver you up” which means “because, since and on account that people will betray, transmit, bring forth, cast and give Jesus' disciples over” “to councils” or “to assemblies of magistrates, judges and ambassadors”; “and in the synagogues” which means “and within the gatherings and assemblies to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” “you shall be beaten” or “Jesus' disciples will be flayed, skinned, thrashed and smote”. Mark shared how Jesus told His disciples they would be “betrayed” by others to “governing authorities”, and they would be “beaten” inside their own worship houses.
The verse continues, “and you shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.” Mark added the words, “and you shall be brought” which means “and Jesus' disciples will be carried and brought forth” “before rulers and kings” or “in front of and in the presence of leaders, governors, procurators and princes as well as commanders and lords of the land” “for my sake” which means “on behalf of and because of Jesus' account and cause”, “for a testimony” or “toward a witness or evidence” “against them” which means “in opposition and opposed to their own selves”. Mark shared how Jesus said His disciples would also be “carried before” “governing authorities”, and their presence before the “rulers and kings” would be for the purpose of having “evidence” against them.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus knew the persecution His followers would face in the world. Indeed His disciples were brought before “governing authorities” and beaten and many were put to death. These “signs of the times” given by Jesus are just as valid today because many people who are Christians throughout the world are “delivered up” or “betrayed”, “beaten” and “killed” for Jesus' “sake”. God knows there will be a day of accounting when all those who commit these horrific acts will answer for their behavior, and when those Christians who endured these things stand as witnesses, woe be to any of them who have not received God's Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “the gospel must first be published among all nations”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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