All of this happened to the men to whom Jesus first said these words. The Book of Acts records how Peter and John were arrested and beaten, and how James was put to death with a sword. John wrote the Book of Revelation from an island called Patmos, where he was sent into exile. The tradition of the Church fills in more details, explaining how all of them died in one way or another rather than to deny their faith in Jesus.
And the persecution of Christians continues today. We all remember the 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by ISIS on a beach in Libya. Chinese Christians continue to be arrested because they want to meet without government oversight. Nigerian Christians are regularly killed and evicted from their homes by Muslims.
And as American culture moves further away from Christian morals and ethics, Christians can expect the same sort of treatment in the days to come. It’s already the case that Christian bakers and florists are being fined for refusing to participate in same-sex weddings. Roman Catholic agencies are being denied the ability to place children for adoption if they do not accommodate same-sex couples. Who knows what will come next?
The good news is that we do not need to live in fear. Jesus has told us what to expect. He has told us that, by the power of His Holy Spirit, He will help us say the right thing when the time comes. But in the meantime, we are to be innocent as doves – not giving in to the pressure to conform to the ways of the world. At the same time, we are to be wise as serpents – there’s no need for us to go looking for trouble or trying to provoke confrontations.
In short, we are to live the Christian life in a wicked world, shining the light of Christ into the darkness, confident that Jesus will help us in the midst of any consequences that come our way as a result of our faithfulness. And who knows? Maybe if suffering comes our way as a result of our faith, others will be convinced of the truth of Christ when they see how much He means to us.
Matthew 10:16-25 (ESV)
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
