They may take your lives, but they cannot take...your SALVATION!

Luke 21:5-19

     So now Jesus has been in Jerusalem for a little while, and He hasn't exactly started recruiting an army or killing Romans with lasers from His eyes or anything like that. The passover is getting close, people are starting to crowd around the city and you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. The people praised Jesus' entrance but what now? He says two things here that are not going to make His followers very happy. One, the temple is going to be destroyed. That means worship as you know it will cease to exist, like when the nation was exiled. People would naturally wonder how this could be part of the Kingdom plan? Two, you will be persecuted by religious and civil governments alike, even your closest family will betray you. Again, this doesn't exactly sound like the results of a conquering king. People are starting to wonder about this and it wont be long now before they feel foolish for following Him and turn on Him.
     Through it all, Jesus promises to be with them. He promises to give them the right words to say at the right times. Some of them will die for Him, but they will not die in vain and their souls will not be touched. Jesus will guard their souls and their endurance will prove their faith. Jesus is the pre, and better, Braveheart. "They may take your lives but they cannot take your SALVATION!" or something like that. Anyway, many at this point think that Jesus is coming in for a crash landing, but what they don't realize is that the crash is according to plan and will produce the greatest victory of all time. Victory over sin and death. Jesus isn't lost, and those who follow Him wont be either.