(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

Evangelists make many promises on behalf of Jesus to persuade men and women to become Christians - forgiveness, eternal life, a sense of purpose, joy, peace and fellowship - but rarely do they warn their hearers of persecution. But this is what Jesus promised his disciples: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." Jn15v20. If this is the case why is it that so many Christians want to be loved and respected by the world?

(B) Persecution is inevitable

In the passage under consideration Jesus makes it crystal clear that the persecution of Christians is bound to occur for the following reasons:

(1) Christians are different.
Jesus said: "As it is you do not belong to the world ...... that is why the world hates you." v19.

Recently I was walking in the countryside when I saw a strange bird being mobbed by crows. It was an albino crow with a white body and black head being attacked by its own kind - attacked for being different.

Children are no better. Children bullied at school are often the oddities - the fat, the ugly, the very clever, the well behaved, the religious, the foolish, the autistic, the deaf .... and so on.

Sadly this behaviour is carried forward into adulthood. Christians whose life style is radically different from non-Christians particularly suffer. They may be denied promotion. I was talking to my brother on Christmas day about a young policeman known to both of us. My brother Philip said, "I am surprised X hasn't been promoted." I wasn't surprised! X is a committed Christian - highly principled and prepared to speak out against what he considers is wrong. Christians who 'rock the boat' in any organisation are rarely ear-marked for promotion. So how did Tony Blair get to the top of the greasy pole?

Many in the world put money before God. Jesus said that it was impossible to serve God and money. William Booth and his Salvation Army activists were bitterly persecuted by the brewers and publicans because they saw profits drop as more and more working class people were converted. Respectable middle class Londoners opposed Booth because he was providing work for many poor girls and causing a shortage of dirt cheap, domestic labour.

(2) Christians belong to Jesus.
Jesus told his followers: "They will treat you this way because of my name." v21.

Christians are persecuted because of their association with and allegiance to Jesus. There remain many in England who hate the name of Jesus - in the media, in local and national government and the public services. This explains why there is a concerted attempt to remove the Christ from Christmas - school nativity plays are banned, notices in council offices advertising a carol service pulled down and the advent season renamed the 'Winter Festival.'

In other parts of the world examples without number exist of men and women, boys and girls, persecuted for the name they bear. There was an article in the January issue of Evangelicals Now entitled: 'China: Christian children don't crack.' Officers from the Public Security Bureau burst into a Sunday School room and herded 30 children into a van. At the police station the children were marched into the interrogation room and told to write, 'I do not believe in Jesus' 100 times before they would be released. Instead the children wrote: 'I believe in Jesus today. I will believe in Jesus tomorrow. I will believe in Jesus forever!'

(3) The testimony Christian's bear.
Jesus told his disciples: "And you must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning." v27. The opponents of Jesus rejected his testimony: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin." v22. If they rejected Christ's testimony - they will reject ours.

Once a year, along with everyone else in the Roman Empire, Christians were expected to burn a pinch of incense to the godhead of Caesar. This was a test of a subject's loyalty - it guaranteed allegiance to Rome. It was the equivalent of saluting the flag in the U.S.A.. All a man had to do was burn his incense and say, "Caesar is Lord," then the subject could go away and practice any religion he liked. Christians refused to do it. Jesus was their Lord. That is the testimony they bore and how they suffered for it.

Persecution ensues whenever the church is active and growing. Persecution accompanied the Reformation, the evangelism of Wesley and Whitfield and the revivalism of William Booth. Brewers and publicans paid gangs of thugs to pelt the Salvation Army evangelists with rubbish.

I was appalled to read about what happened to John Banda in London recently (2005). He was stopped near London Bridge by three police officers for displaying a Bible text message to the passing crowds. The text which was displayed on a sandwich board said: Jesus Christ is Lord. Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. Acts3v19. The three police officers ordered Mr Banda to remove the Bible text from his person or be booked for a criminal charge under section 5 of the Public Order Act, 1986. The police did not approve of what he had on his body. It beggars belief that a citizen of England, for centuries a Christian country, can be criminalized for publicly displaying a quotation from Scripture. It is a pity those three brave policemen did not have something better to do with their time.

(4) The world does not know God.
Jesus indicated that the main reason he was persecuted by the Jews, God's chosen people, was because they did not know God. He said: "For they do not know the One who sent me." v22. "He who hates me hates my Father as well." v23. "In fact a time is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God." They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. Ch16v3and4.

It is scandalous that some of the worst persecution is inflicted by religious extremists in God's name.

The Jews were the first ones to attack the Christian church. Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death by Jews. Saul of Tarsus by his own admission, " ... persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison." Acts22v4.

During the Reformation the Roman Catholic church instigated the Inquisition in an effort to assert its authority over those who dissented from its doctrine. Torture and death were its instruments of correction!

Today in countries like Saudi Arabia where Muslim fundamentalists exercise power Christians are not free to worship or evangelise. The penalty for persuading a Muslim to believe in Jesus Christ is harsh in the extreme and carried out in the name of Allah. However, it would be wrong to overlook the attitude of some right wing Christian fundamentalists who appear to hate everyone who disagrees with them and whose religion is as legalistic and oppressive as the Pharisees in the time of Jesus. Nor are those liberals much better who treat anyone who accepts the authority of Scripture with high disdain. It is possible to persecute the faithful with curled lip, a put down and a condescending smile.

None of the groups above know God. If God considered coercion was a legitimate means of converting men and women to the truth he would have used it himself. God does not use force to make men believe in Jesus. As man freely rebelled against him in the first instance so God requires we freely, willingly, submit to his Son for salvation and reconciliation. God believes in freedom! Most of the trouble in the world is the result of God's commitment to freedom.

(C) Persecution may be terrible.

Christians may be called upon to suffer what Christ suffered:

(1) Rejection.
Jesus said: "They hated me without reason ... ." v25. Jesus was rejected by the Jews as a whole in spite of the miracles he did and the words he spoke. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John1v11. There is something chilling about the response of the Jewish leaders to Pilate's question: "Shall I crucify your King?"

"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Jn19v15.

The reasons Jesus was rejected 2000 years ago are the reasons he and his people are dismissed today. His hearers:

(a) Didn't need saving but were all right as they were.
(b) Would not submit; they were too proud, stiff-necked and hard-hearted.
(c) Had too much to lose; they counted the cost and were not prepared to pay it.

If we preach the gospel to those who do not need saving, will never submit and love their lifestyle we shall be rejected along with the message of salvation.

(2) Misrepresentation
When Jesus was brought to trial in the middle of the night before the Sanhedrin he faced the trumped up charge of threatening to destroy the temple in three days. Later when the chief priests brought Jesus before Pilate, the Roman Governor, they accused him of having political ambitions. The priests said to Pilate: "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." Jn19v12.

Christians have experienced the same treatment as Jesus and been misrepresented throughout history. In the early years of the church it was the Jews who spread lies about Christians. They were accused of cannibalism because of the words used in the communion service: Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Mt26v26. Christians were also said to be promiscuous because they held a weekly love feast. There was, perhaps, more substance to the rumour that they stole children from their parents such was the transforming power of the gospel.

In the 19th century when William Booth was evangelising with such success and establishing the Salvation Army the national press suggested he was lining his own pocket. His biographer, Roy Hattersley, says there is absolutely no evidence for this.

Hardly a week goes by without Christians being misrepresented in the media. Last week I read an article in the Daily Telegraph that suggested only a few Christian fanatics were opposed to homosexual marriages. This is of course is not true as a correspondent pointed out subsequently. Millions and millions of Christians and Muslims believe that homosexuality is not something to be celebrated anymore than is prostitution, adultery, voyeurism and solitary masturbation. Very few of us are without guilt when it comes to sex but most of us do not celebrate our failings. Time after time Christians who advocate intelligent design are portrayed as unscientific morons who believe God created everything in 144 hours. Scant recognition is given to those who attempt to harmonise the findings of science with the Biblical account. See my article on: Creation and Science.

(3) Ridicule
The religious and political leaders in Jerusalem consistently ridiculed Jesus. His parentage, lack of education and authority were all called into question. In his final hours before offering up his life a ransom for sin Jesus was mocked and tormented by Herod's soldiers, the Roman soldiers, the priests, passers by and the two thieves on the cross.

Christians are repeatedly ridiculed today. Clergymen are less than sympathetically portrayed in the media. President George Bush is hated, vilified and mocked in newspapers like the Guardian and Independent as much for being a born again Christian as for his policies. His decision to invade Iraq may well have been a mistake but he seems to me a decent man - one I would much rather spend time with than Saddam Hussein! It is pathetic to make out that George Bush is an ignorant, inarticulate buffoon when he holds a university degree and is President of the United States of America.

I am mocked, albeit gently, for being a Christian - even by my friends - big Tommy and genial George. Tommy thinks I hold the weirdest views and George invariably accuses me of being a hell fire preacher. I am certainly not guilty of the latter!

Unjust treatment
Jesus did and said nothing to deserve the treatment he received from the Jewish leaders or Pilate. He was arrested without just cause, dragged before a kangaroo court, abused while in custody and brutally done to death although the presiding judge found him not guilty of any crime.

The 20th century saw millions of Christians unjustly imprisoned by the Nazis in Germany and communists in the U.S.S.R and China.

(5) Physical intimidation and death.
Jesus suffered all the horrors of crucifixion - one of the most painful forms of execution devised by man.

It makes me shudder to think of all the ghastly, excruciating ways Christians have been martyred during the last 2000 years. The words of Jesus have certainly been proved true: "In fact a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God." Ch16v2. This is a reminder that the first Christians were martyred by the Jews and that religious fanatics have continued in this unholy tradition.

Nonetheless by far the greatest number of Christian executions have been carried out by irreligious people. For 400 years Rome inflicted wave after wave of shocking, brutal and bestial persecution on the church. The authorities devised a variety of sadistic ways of putting Christians to death.

In the early 17th century successive Shoguns destroyed Christianity in Japan. I have even heard some say that this was a good thing!! Perhaps, those people would like to see their wives and children burned alive; Christian women with babies in their arms consumed by the flames; priests horribly crucified.

But worst of all - the Satanic purges of the 20th century - when it is estimated that 26 million Christians lost their lives for Jesus' sake. Nearly all of these died at the hands of communists or nazis - atheistic organisations - yet, their are ignorant fools who lay all the world's problems at the door of religion. Atheists have a lot to be proud about! They have some admirable heroes in Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao tse Tung and Pol Pot.

The words of Jesus are a formidable challenge. The Yugoslavian evangelical leader, Peter Kusmic, said: So much popular Western evangelical religiosity is so shallow and selfish. It promises so much and demands so little. It offers success, personal happiness, peace of mind, material prosperity; but it hardly speaks of repentance, sacrifice, self-denial, holy life style and willingness to die for Christ.

What are we prepared to lose for Christ's sake? Our livelihood? Our homes and possessions? Our freedom? Our health? Our reputation? Our lives? Jesus has a clear right to ask any or all of these of us. He gives no guarantee that he will not. Following Jesus is not a game.

(D) Persecution is endurable.

(1) It helps to be forewarned.
Jesus said to his disciples, "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray." Ch16v1. It does help to be told what to expect. Doctors will warn a patient if the medical procedure he is about to undergo is likely to be painful. This gives the patient time to prepare and steel himself against discomfit.

(2) It is encouraging to know that God is in control.
Jesus believed that his rejection had been foretold: "But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law, 'They hated me without reason.'" v25. Jesus was referring to Psalm35v19.

God was not caught unawares by the persecution of his Son. It was in his will and purpose that Jesus should be crucified. God is not caught out, or helpless, when the church is persecuted.

I take comfort from the fact that God cut short Christ's ordeal on the cross. His work was finished long before death took its natural course. Jesus was able to dismiss his spirit before the soldiers set about breaking the legs of the two thieves. Intense persecution of the church is not usually prolonged. In the Roman era there were lengthy periods between bouts of persecution when Christians were left alone. Believers have survived and their numbers increased during communist rule in China.

(3) To suffer for Christ is an effective witness to our relationship with him.
Jesus said: "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." v20.

Persecution is a sign that we are taken seriously by the opposition, that we are effective servants of Jesus. There is no better way to show our allegiance to the Captain of our Salvation than to be wounded in the battle against the enemy.

Sound the battle-cry! See! the foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high for the Lord!
Gird you armour on, stand firm every one,
Rest your cause upon His holy Word!

Rouse then, soldiers! rally round the banner!
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward! forward! shout aloud Hossana!
Christ is Captain of the might throng!

(4) We are not alone - we have a helper.
Jesus promised: "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." v26.

Christians do not witness alone; there is another who witnesses with us. The servant of Jesus will receive help whenever he carries out his Master's will. The harder it is - the more help we will receive.

(E) Conclusion.

It is possible for Christians to actively seek persecution, to invite trouble. The church has its hooligan fringe who wants to prove its virility by picking fights needlessly. We do well to heed Paul's advice: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom12v18. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom12v21.

After his conversion Paul did try and live at peace with everyone. He didn't have to go looking for trouble - trouble came looking for him.

I owe something to Bruce Milne for the content of this exposition.