“…the one who endures to the end will be saved. ” Mark 13:9-13 ESV
There’s an old song that goes something like this: “you only hurt the one you love.” Another way to look at it is: you can only be hurt by those you love, those whom you’ve let into your life, cared for, and nurtured. These are the ones Jesus brings up now in his discussion of the times of the end on the Mount of Olives.
Mark starts off by saying “they” will turn you over to the authorities, both religious and civil. These authorities think they have you on trial, but God sees it the other way around. They are on trial and you are the star witness.
So who are the “they” that Mark mentions? Those who are near and dear to you. Brothers, fathers, sons. Children will rise up against their parents. No one wants to be betrayed, but the betrayal of a friend stings worse than the worst an enemy can do.
The stakes are high – beatings and death. But the threat that you pose as a believer in Jesus Christ is so extreme that they can justify it. The real offense is Him. Anything that reminds them of Him must be eliminated and they will stop at nothing to accomplish it. It may be organized and systematic. It may be utter chaos, boiling with mob-driven rioting. It doesn’t matter. They will come for you.
How do you defend yourself against such frenzy? You don’t. First, you must be smart. Stay on your guard. Don’t be tricked into sacrificing yourself needlessly. Then when they haul you before the judge, don’t panic. Don’t worry about what to say. Jesus is on trial, not you. He will provide the words. His Holy Spirit will speak through you.
Thankfully, we are not yet faced with such wide scale opposition, but it is beginning to happen. There is still time and opportunity to accomplish our mission: spreading the good news. This is our first priority and the focus of our energies and efforts. This race may be long and arduous, but run it to the finish.