14 “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!” (1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV)
In the Upper Room Jesus said to His disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, 12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12–13 (ESV)
The Apostle Peter explained, “12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:12–17 (ESV)
Suffering on behalf of the Lord Jesus has always been the lot of the believer in Christ. It has always been so. Why? Jesus said, “
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’” (John 15:18–25 (ESV)
Therefore, it should not be surprising to us that Paul, Silas and Timothy acknowledged the Thessalonian believers had suffered for the Lord. This was a definitive mark of the true believer in Christ (I Thess. 1:6-7). It always has been throughout church history and in today’s contemporary church.
“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.” Imitators (μιμηταὶ; mimetai) means to walk or to follow. It parallels the Hebrew word “halak” meaning to follow God’s ways. We derive the English word “mimic” from this Greek noun. Not only had the Thessalonians been imitators of Paul, Silas and Timothy and the Lord, they also were imitators of other churches in the region of Judea (I Thess. 1:6).
The imitation Paul spoke of regarding the Thessalonians was their willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ. “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.” Acts 17:1-9 chronicles the jealous reaction by unbelievers towards the early Thessalonian church which paralleled what the early Jewish Christian encountered (Acts 8:1-3).
“Not only were the Thessalonians imitators of Paul and the Lord (cf. 1:6), but also of the churches in Judea in the sense that they both were persecuted for Christ’s sake (cf. Acts 4:1–4; 5:26; 8:1). They drank Christ’s cup of suffering (Matt. 26:39) and walked in the way of the OT prophets (Matt. 21:33–46; Luke 13:34),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
“The Thessalonians has in good earnest embraced the gospel, as being presented to them by God, inasmuch as they courageously endured the assaults which Satan made upon them, and did not refuse to suffer anything rather than leave off obedience to it. And unquestioningly, this is no slight test of faith when Satan, by all his machinations, has no success in moving us away from the fear of God,” concludes John Calvin.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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