Endure hatred

Endure hatred
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mk.13:13)

Early Christian community actually had to undergo trials, sufferings and persecutions as mentioned in verses 9-12. In verse 13 the author of Mark’s Gospel quoted Jesus’ word as saying, ‘all men will hate you because of me’.

Sometimes such word can be misused. Church accepts criticisms from others as the church is covetous with this word. When I shepherded a flock of many souls in Hyunpung, someone called me up. He complained against me for using megaphone of the church in singing hymns which disturbed his sleep. As he was working in a factory in three shifts, he replaced insufficient sleeping hours with early morning sleep or late afternoon. As a result he was disturbed by the loud sound of singing hymn from church. Since then our church did not turn on the megaphone while singing of hymns. Earlier we used to turn on the megaphone at 11 am for Sunday worship service but it did not take long. However, the churches on the hill without any hesitation turned on the megaphone loudly while singing hymns. It was a great disturbance even to me, a pastor. If the response of Christians applies this situation to the word, ‘All men will hate you because of me’ then it may distort the word of Jesus.

The author of Mark encourages enduring such trials till the end. There is no promise about the end of trials. Unless Roman Emperor’s worship stopped, the persecution for Christian would not stop. The only word the author of Mark’s gospel could tell to the community members was “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Trial is a reality. Salvation is a promise. It is not necessary to mention which one comes stronger. Probably many Christians could not but be betrayed. Many also could not but be martyred. It was history of early Christianity.