The Answer to Our Timidity

 

[Jesus said] “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:9-13 ESV).

 

I have been called on to speak in front of large and small crowds. I remember how anxious I was each of the times I was asked to do the message at all three of my son’s baccalaureate ceremonies. I also remember how anxious I was the first time I preached at the First Baptist Church of Bryan. Being timid when speaking in front of a large crowd can happen to all of us. For many that same timidity can affect us when we are speaking with individuals and small groups of people. Jesus gives assurance that even in those situations the Holy Spirit can and will speak through us.

 

Although Jesus describes a high stakes scene, his promise here recalls promises found in the Old Testament. The Old Testament prophets were moved to speak by the Holy Spirit. This speaking ministry of the Holy Spirit only occurred occasionally in the Old Testament, but the prophet Joel foretells of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on and speak through all of God’s children (cf. Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2).

 

Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit’s work is for ordinary life, but it’s also for times of persecution. Jesus is obviously describing persecution in our passage. And on separate occasions in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit speaks in and through Peter, Stephen, and Paul when their faith is on the line in desperate situations. We have this same promise of the Spirit’s presence and power in our lives. We may or may not be faced with such difficult circumstances, but we all have the opportunity to point to Jesus every day. And if we face persecution, we can be assured that the Holy Spirit will speak in and through us. That’s a great comfort!