We follow Jesus Christ who was rejected by the religious and civil leadership. He was arrested and tortured to death in the worst way known. Those around him left him. One close to him betrayed him. The one he had the greatest hope for denied him three times.
This is who we follow. This is whom we are to mirror our lives, align our priorities with and give our will over to. If we are to be faithful followers who seek eternal life.
Is it surprising that we too could possibly be betrayed by those we love, left by many, and arrested, tortured and even murdered for our faith. Does not the apprentice in any field of work or student in any field of study have to follow the master in learning and actions and speech. Is it not expected that we will have to lose all for this discipleship?
That is what Jesus clearly tells us today. We know that those who were listening did experience betrayal and death for their faith. They are now saints in heaven and have obtained their reward as martyrs for the faith. As those who would never deny the truth of Jesus Christ. They put his will ahead of the world and their own wants.
What will our future be and how we will leave this world we don’t know. The end times may be tomorrow or decades or centuries after our own death asleep in our bed.
But we are to live and be prepared to always confess the faith we have in Jesus Christ every day and in that way we will be ready.
If we are not sure we are ready to withstand torture for our faith we must pray more, ask for his help more, and align our lives and thoughts and actions to his way.
Only then will we be raised to life in the spirit and body after leaving this world.
Christs resurrection promises us he defeated death and now we are free from the permanent death. We will leave this life one day that is certain. We leave with nothing but what we brought into it and the love we gave and the faith we owned without wavering.
But just as Jesus was resurrected so will we be if we hold out to the end. If we keep the truth in our hearts and his words on our lips. Jesus says our perseverance will secure our life in heaven.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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