1. The Persecuted

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

Today’s Reading: Mark 14:53-65, Matthew 5:10-12

What is Persecution?

Persecution means "unfair treatment" or "harassment, often severe," based on who you are or what you believe. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus says something unexpected: "How good is life when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's Kingdom." How can life possibly be good when you're being mistreated?

When I was 8, my favorite book from the school library was Jesus Freaks (1995)—a collection of stories about Christian martyrs. (Looking back, it's a bit wild that a 3rd grader was reading about brutal murders, but hey, it was a different time.) Western Christianity seems a bit obsessed with persecution, sometimes to the point of exaggeration. For example, being killed for your faith isn't the same as being upset because your coffee cup doesn't say "Merry Christmas."

What’s In it For Me?

The wording of a note in the 1994 Life Application Study Bible offers a helpful perspective on how we read Matthew 5: "If we want to live for God...we must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate...In doing this, you will one day receive everything, while others will end up with nothing." The focus is often on the reward—a promise of Heaven. Jesus talks a lot about rewards (see Matthew 6:4, 6, 19-21), and verse 12 of this passage mentions it too.

But is Heaven's reward the only reason to endure persecution? That feels self-centered and ego-driven—like asking, "What's in it for me?" This attitude creates two problems: too many Christians "play the victim," even though Jesus made it clear we'd be at odds with the world. Also, despite being rooted in the Resurrection, this version of Christianity fears hardship or endings.

Opposition is Opportunity

Here's the key: "The persecution drives you deeper into God's Kingdom." Opposition can help you experience God's way more fully. Picture a wine press—grapes are squeezed until wine flows out; the more pressure, the more wine. The pressing isn’t pleasant, but it’s necessary for transformation. In the same way, persecution can act as a spiritual press. The more we’re tested, the more opportunity we have to release what’s within us.

We often talk about Jesus this way. In Mark 14:53-65, he stands before the religious leaders, the very people who should have embraced him as the Messiah. Instead, they accuse him falsely, twist his words, and act with malice. This is the beginning of Jesus’ “pressing,” yet he doesn’t respond with anger or defensiveness. Instead, he releases only truth and goodness, showing us the character of God even under immense pressure. When the crushing peaked on the cross, Jesus released forgiveness, care for his mother, and salvation for the whole world.

What do you release when life presses you?

This is the paradox of the Kingdom: the crushing moments are not evidence of God’s absence but opportunities to experience his presence more fully. As Christians, we're called to release light in the face of darkness. This is a counter-active measure that "darkness cannot comprehend" (John 1:5). Persecution becomes an opportunity to reflect God's love, forgiveness, and mercy.

It cost Jesus everything to show us this way—offering his life on the cross. Even now, he's given us life and breath, reality and time. The promise of Heaven's future rewards is amazing, but Jesus has already done more than enough for us. Our motivation to persevere through persecution shouldn't just be about rewards—it's about the chance to show the world how God's incredible Kingdom works.

*Video was shot, edited and produced by David Tregde. Script and direction by Julius Shumpert.

“Matthew 5.” Holy Bible: New International Version, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 1984.

Peterson, Eugene. “Matthew 5.” The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, Nav Press, Colorado Springs, CO, 2002.

Life Application Bible for Students, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Weaton, IL, 1994, pp. 912–913.

Gibran, Khalil. “Finding God.” The Wanderer: His Parables and His Sayings, Alfred A. Knopf, 1932, pp. 87–87.