Jesus is spending this last week teaching the people in the Temple.
Chapter 20 has Him sparring with the Chief Priests and Scribes and Saducees, and Chapter 21 is on Last Things we are to expect before the Kingdom comes.
21: 10-15
Then He said to them, Nation shall rise up against Nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall be in the Heavens.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My Name's sake.
And it will give you opportunity for your testimony. Settle it, therefore, in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.So before the wars and skirmishes, before the great earthquakes and plagues and famines, before the terrors and great signs in the Heavens; we should expect persecution.
We need to prepare ourselves now for what He says is coming, and is here already, so we'll not need to be concerned about the speeches we'll be compelled to give when we're called before kings and presidents to testify. The Truth is all we'll need.
So we need to be solidly grounded in the Truth before we're dragged away. And we don't know when that will be, it will be before all the signs given: any time!
If you have been following along with me on this blog, and taking to heart what I've been sharing, then you will have a firm grasp of God's character, His authority, and His Plan. And you will be able to trust His Holy Spirit in you to give you the words you'll need when you are the one they're hauling into court for what you believe.
O my Father, Thank You for Your written Word, and for Your Spirit in us to give us understanding of what You are telling us, and to apply Your lessons to our lives every day. Father, draw us ever closer to Yourself, building into each of us Your sterling character, as demonstrated by Your Son Jesus.
Thank You so much, Father, for showing me how to connect so many dots, to understand how this whole library of 66 books all tell one story: of all You have done to show us Yourself and who we are, and what You have done for us; how much You have loved us; and You made us to live with You, as Your favorites!
O Father, You will receive all the glory, all the honor, all the credit and blessing and riches; because You alone deserve it all!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
