"Brothers will turn against their own brothers and give them to be killed. Fathers will turn against their own children and give them to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and find ways for their parents to be killed."
Jesus was leaving the temple area. One of his followers said to him, "Look, Teacher! This temple has very beautiful buildings with very big stones." Jesus said, "Are you looking at these great buildings? They will all be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another." Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. He was alone with Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They could all see the temple. Those followers asked Jesus, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will show us it is time for these things to happen?" Jesus said to the followers: "Be careful! Don't let any person fool you. Many people will come and use my name. They will say, 'I am the One.' And they will fool many people. You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don't be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are like the first pains when something new is born. "You must be careful. People will arrest you and take you to be judged. They will beat you in their synagogues. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. You will tell them about me. This will happen to you because you follow me. Before these things happen, the Good News must be told to all people. You will be arrested and judged. But don't worry about what you should say. Say the things God gives you to say at that time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit speaking. "Brothers will turn against their own brothers and give them to be killed. Fathers will turn against their own children and give them to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and find ways for their parents to be killed. All people will hate you because you follow me.But the person that continues strong until the end will be saved.
Jesus had warned that his ministry and those loyal to him, could find themselves having to choose between their family and their faith, their circle of friends and their faith. As the hostility of living in a fallen world breaks upon us, betrayal will strike very close to the hearts of believers just as it did to the Savior. We shouldn't be surprised that some in our own family would betray us if one of Jesus' handpicked apostles did the same to him.
O Master and God, please help me to be strong enough to withstand the betrayal of those close to me. Please let me never outlive my love for your Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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