They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. John 16:2 NABRE
Jesus speaks to His disciples about being hated and He tells them they will even lose their connections, particularly to their spiritual community. The synagogue, and temple are the center of life in a Jewish community, besides worship, life centers around the synagogue. Many towns have a synagogue, a place where people could come together, connect with God and each other. But Jesus tells those closest to Him that they will be expelled. Jesus’ teaching which He asks them to bring to the ends of the world will not be accepted by the leaders of the community and the disciples will be forced out of the synagogue. In fact when it is decided to kill Jesus disciples, many of whom are murdered into martyrdom, the killing will be seen as an act of worship, offering and sacrifice for God. Religion probably has been the cause of as many killings as any war or revolution. Killing in the name of God not only happens on a physical level, it also happens on a social level. Jesus is speaking about both, the disciples will be cut off from all their social connections and ultimately will be put to death. Those cutting off and killing truly believe they are God’s instrument.
Followers of Jesus in the USA today have taken a political position in their hope to evangelize. Vote a particularly way or you are against God. Vote anti-abortion or you are no friend of Jesus. Jesus is apolitical, He never protests Roman occupation. Jesus teaches this cutting off and killing will happen, but not in His name. Jesus never kills, socially or physically, Jesus is against any killing.
Have you cutoff someone from your life? Are you led by culture or Jesus?
Jesus is apolitical, He never protests Roman occupation. Jesus teaches this cutting off and killing will happen, but not in His name. Jesus never kills, socially or physically, Jesus is against any killing. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #expel #kill #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways