Are you prepared?

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told them to you. John 16:1-4

In today's text, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face as His followers. He cautions them of persecution and trial but offers assurance and guidance for navigating these difficult times. 

Jesus begins by telling His disciples that He has shared these warnings to be spiritually prepared and prevent them from falling away. Just as Jesus prepared His disciples, we should also be ready for the challenges of living out our faith in a fallen world.

Jesus warned the disciples that they would be put out of the synagogues and that some would even think they were serving God by persecuting them. The message of Christ can be rejected, even from the religious. It's a reminder to stand firm in our faith, regardless of external pressures.

Despite the challenges the disciples were about to face, Jesus assures them that He has told them these things in advance so that when their hour of trial comes, they will remember His words. His teachings would provide them with a foundation of faith and hope amid adversity.

Dear Church, today's text teaches us that as followers of Christ, we will encounter trials and opposition. However, just as Jesus prepared His disciples, He equips us with His teachings, Spirit, and abiding presence. In times of trials, let us stand firm, holding fast to the truth and grace of our Lord.