Why would these men, beaten and bloodied, inches from death, turn around and bless their captors? Why would they rejoice on the way home? Why would they thank God as they nursed wounds and now walked with a limp? Jesus said “blessed are you when people insult and persecute you because of me…” which sounds like a foolish way to see it until you see the big picture.
Followers of Jesus — expect to be persecuted. Some of us may suffer to the point of death via persecutor. It happens today.
What do we do with the people who beat us up because of our faith?
We bless them.
Why?
Because we see the big picture.
Persecution is like a skinned knee on the way to the pool. We’ll be having so much fun that, in the grand scheme, it won’t matter.