Very reluctantly, after beating the disciples and charging them again at the peril of their lives to preach no more in the name of Jesus, they released them."And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."84
Shortly before His crucifixion Christ had bequeathed to His disciples a legacy of peace."Peace I leave with you," He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27.This peace is not the peace that comes through conformity to the world.Christ never purchased peace by compromise with evil.The peace that Christ left His disciples is internal rather than external and was ever to remain with His witnesses through strife and contention.
Christ said of Himself, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: Icame not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34.The Prince of Peace, He was yet the cause of division.He who came to proclaim glad tidings and to create hope and joy in the hearts of the children of men, opened a controversy that burns deep and arouses intense passion in the human heart.
And He warns His followers, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." "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." "Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death." John 16:33; Luke 21:12, 16.
This prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner.Every indignity, reproach, and cruelty that Satan could instigate human hearts to devise, has been visited upon the followers of Jesus.And it will be again fulfilled in a marked manner; for the carnal heart is still at enmity with the law of 85God, and will not be subject to its commands.The world is no more in harmony with the principles of Christ today than it was in the days of the apostles.The same hatred that prompted the cry, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!"the same hatred that led to the persecution of the disciples, still works in the children of disobedience.The same spirit which in the Dark Ages consigned men and women to prison, to exile, and to death, which conceived the exquisite torture of the Inquisition, which planned and executed the Massacre of St.Bartholomew, and which kindled the fires of Smithfield, is still at work with malignant energy in unregenerate hearts.The history of truth has ever been the record of a struggle between right and wrong.The proclamation of the gospel has ever been carried forward in this world in the face of opposition, peril, loss, and suffering.
What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered persecution for Christ's sake? It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ.Reproach and persecution have separated many from earthly friends, but never from the love of Christ.Never is the tempest-tried soul more dearly loved by His Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the truth's sake."I will love him," Christ said, "and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21.When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ stands by his side.When he is confined within prison walls, Christ manifests Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love.When he suffers death for Christ's sake, the Saviour says to him, They may kill the body, but they cannot hurt the soul."Be of good cheer;
have overcome the world." "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." John 16:33; Isaiah 41:10.
"They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever." "He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in His sight." Psalms 125:1-3; 72:14.
"The Lord of hosts shall defend them;...the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land." Zechariah 9:15, 16.
