Luke the beloved physician wrote how Jesus said, “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven”, and in chapter twelve and verse eleven of his book Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples, “when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer” where we read:
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:
The verse reads, “And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they bring you” or “and at the time and moment people or religious leaders carry, lead and present believers in Jesus” “unto the synagogues” which means “to the worship places where an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”, “and unto magistrates” or “and to principalities, rulers and chiefs”, “and powers” which means “and authorities, rulers of government and potentates”. Luke shared how Jesus presented a condition to a time when those who believe and trust in Him would be “arrested' and carried into the worship centers before “religious leaders and rulers” who have “authority” to judge them.
The verse continues, “... take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:” Luke added the words, “take you not thought” or “do not be anxious, troubled or careful” “how or what thing you shall answer” which means “in what way or manner or what believers in Jesus will say in response”, “or what you shall say” or “or what words those who believe in Jesus should employ”. Luke shared how Jesus instructed those who believe in Him, and are carried before “authorities” to answer for their ways, to not be “anxious or worried” about how they will answer or what they will say.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus knew people who believe in Him would be “carried” before authorities to answer for their “beliefs”. Many people have been “brought before” judges, religious leaders and people in power upon the earth simply because they believed in Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Jesus instructed believers not to worry about how they would answer or what they would say to the “authorities”, and He will tell them why in the next verse. For now let it suffice us to know there may be a “price to pay” for believing and trusting in Jesus, and many have paid that “price” not only with persecution, beatings, torture and sometimes death, but also ridicule and belittling as well. God observes all these things, and those who suffer shall receive great rewards from Him in Heaven. Let all who consider these things remember, even Jesus Himself was not exempt from being brought before judges and authorities, and since He endured these things and is exalted to the right hand of God, may those who believe in Him have the same spirit within them.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say”, 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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