Message to Smyrna
8 “Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna:
These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: 9 I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really the Adversary’s synagogue). 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death.
Reflection
The Christians in Smyrna are facing a crisis that can cost them their lives. There seems to be trouble on all sides. They have been ostracized by their pagan neighbors, for not sacrificing to the Roman Emperor and for not worshipping his statue (idolatry). Christians, were seen as a Jewish sect by Rome, and were shut out of the synagogues for refusing to comply with Roman law, and were causing problems for the Jewish leaders, who were trying to maintain the status quo with Roman authorities. Failure to go to the Roman temple, offer incense and worship the Emperor could result in confiscation of your property, exile, imprisonment and death. This caused Christians in Smyrna who refused to do this, to suffer from poverty and persecution.
Smyrna was a beautiful and wealthy Hellenistic and Roman trade port city in Asia Minor, with large temples dedicated to many pagan deities and devoted to the worship of Rome and Roman emperors. In this letter Jesus, “the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life,” tells the poverty stricken Christians that he sees all that they are suffering. Jesus tells them “not to be afraid of what they will suffer.” While they may live in a wealthy city, they are in fact poor because they have been faithful to God in Christ. But Jesus says they are actually rich, that the testing of their faith and the suffering they endure will bring them a glorious victory. Because they remained faithful through persecution, they will be crowned with eternal life in Christ.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering and Prayer
Sometimes it feels like there is trouble on all sides. I want to remain faithful to God and follow Jesus, but then I experience the cultural backlash of trying to follow Jesus by loving others, showing compassion, and speaking out for justice. It can get really unpleasant really fast. It feels scary. Sometimes it feels like it would be easier to just recede into the background. But I know I can’t do that, because I made a baptismal vow to follow Jesus “to resist evil, injustice
and oppression, in whatever forms they present themselves.” Speaking out, loving others and seeking peace aren’t easy to do, but I trust in God to give me the right words and actions, the Spirit to make me bold to stand against injustice and Jesus to guide me to be kind, loving and compassionate to all God’s children.
When it feels like there is trouble on all sides, how do you remain faithful to God and keep following Jesus?
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, we are struggling with trouble on all sides. We want to remain faithful to you and follow Jesus. It’s hard to do everyday and it feels scary. Send the power of your Spirit to make us bold, loving and compassionate, and to seek justice for all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
