Ready to be persecuted
Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him (Matthew 17, 12)
As they came down from the mountain the disciples put this question to Jesus, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True;’ he replied ‘Elijah is to come to see that everything is once more as it should be; however, I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him but treated him as they pleased; and the Son of Man will suffer similarly at their hands.’ The disciples understood then that he had been speaking of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17, 10-13)
The mere presence of just people is unbearable for the wicked, as it reminds them that it is possible to live righteously and shows other people just how wicked they really are. This is why Jesus is tortured and put on the cross despite his obvious innocence. For those people who are unjustly persecuted, the Lord will never fail to give them His courage and His comfort. Are you ready suffer persecution for following Jesus?
