As the disciples admired the temple buildings with their large stones (Mark 13:2), Jesus warned that very troubled days were coming. The temple would be desecrated with a “desolating sacrilege” and people would need to “flee to the mountains” (13:14). The temple itself would lie in ruins: “not one stone will be left here upon another” (13:2).

That’s how it happened, just a few decades later, within the lifetime of many who heard Jesus’ words: when the nation rebelled against Roman rule, the Roman army marched into Jerusalem in 70 AD and destroyed the temple. A lot of people died, and the rest ran for their lives.

But though the suffering and persecution they experienced was far more severe than the challenges we sometimes face, there is an application for us: people will betray you (13:12), there will be many who will try to lead you astray (13:6, 22), and “you will be hated by all because of my name” (13:13). Faithfulness will call for perseverance in the midst of trial: “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (13:13).

I’ve never been enthusiastic about suffering and persecution, even though the little I have faced has been rather mild, hardly enough to complain about compared to what Jesus described. Courage is hard. Endurance is hard. But if we only remain faithful when it’s easy, does that even really count as faithfulness?

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Will we be steadfast in our loyalty to you, Jesus, when it is awkward and uncomfortable to proclaim our allegiance? Will we remain faithful, in the midst of suffering? Help us, Lord, to endure to the end, trusting that we will find our salvation in you.