25: The servant, or the disciple, should expect to be treated no better than the master or lord. So, Jesus is explaining to them why they will be greatly persecuted. Indeed, he had already undergone persecution, and would ultimately be betrayed to death.
Jesus was, by the Jewish leaders, equated with Belzebub. In the Greek, this name is actually Belzebul. It seems that Belzebul was some sort of adaptation of the original name Belzebub. Belzebub, the Philistine ‘lord of the flies’, or ‘lord of the high places’ was ridiculed by the Jews. They said he was lord of the flies because he was a pile of dung. Belzebul then was connected with this idea and would at the same time mean the Devil himself, and have the contemptuous description of the ‘lord of the flies’ connected to it. So, to call Jesus Belzebul was quite offensive. The disciples would have understood this.
Daily Bible Reading: Acts 20:1-21:40
Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
Daily Tidbit: Paul’s sermon in Acts 20 that lasted all night must have been something. I cannot imagine what would happen if someone tried to preach all night nowadays. Everybody would fall asleep I am sure.
Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for warning us about persecution and helping us through it. May we only be persecuted for doing what is right. We want to always do that which will please You. Father, You are worthy of praise. We will stay busy praising You, not only with our lips, but with our lives. It is so good to live a life that honors You. It makes us feel like we can, in some small way, say thank-you for all that You are and do. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man with terminal cancer. Pray for a man looking for a job.
Personal Journal Entry #13062