Tuesday, May 19
Melissa, an excellent baker, tells of the time she accidentally put salt into a cake mix instead of sugar. When she finished decorating the cake, it looked like a masterpiece, and her children couldn’t wait to dive into it. Then came the rude awakening, when they tasted this salty conglomeration.
The longer we live the more we are aware that the outside of something does not always match its inside. We have listened to enticing sales pitches and bought the products only to realize they did not live up to the promises made by the sales persons.
One of the struggles we have as Christians is dealing with the deceitful tactics of the Enemy. St. Paul says he disguises himself as an “angel of light” and covers his rotten products with attractive wrapping paper. He makes “salty” cake and tries to trick us into thinking it is the real thing.
Knowing this, Jesus prepared his disciples for what to expect after he was gone (John 15:26-16:4).
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. 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.”
Jesus knows that the tempter is out to steal, kill, and destroy his sheep. In an effort to protect his flock, he warns them of what will come. The synagogue was a place where God’s Word was read and where godly people gathered. Imagine the shame involved in being kicked out of a synagogue! It was equivalent to proclaiming that a person was a sinner. And imagine the extent of the devil’s deceit to make people think that they were honoring God by killing off the followers of his Son. How confused can people be?
Jesus explains:
“They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.”
Knowing about God, going to Scripture classes, and priding oneself as being religious is not the same as knowing God. Those who sought to kill Christians thought they believed in God and thought they were doing him a service, whereas in truth they knew neither God nor his only Son, Jesus.
“I have told you this so that when their hour comes you will remember that I told you.”
When early Christians began to be persecuted in the name of God, Jesus’ words came back to them. They realized that he had prepared them for this “hour,” and so were able to remain faithful to him even when religious authorities condemned them in God’s name. Remember the story of Peter and John when they were arrested by the Sanhedrin? Rather than being ashamed that they were treated this way, they rejoiced that they were privileged to be treated just the way Jesus had been.
The early Christians were able to discern the works of the Enemy, even though they were decorated with “God-colored icing,” because they remembered the words of their Shepherd. Jesus told us that his sheep know his voice and ignore the voices of false shepherds. How important it is for us to spend much time with Jesus in prayer so that we can become familiar with his voice. His voice will evoke peace and love within our hearts and will stand out in contrast to the voices of hateful false shepherds who pose themselves as God’s representatives.
In every age the Holy Spirit prepares followers of Jesus for the “hour that is coming.”
“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, and you also will testify” (John 15:26-27)
