Because of Me

Jesus said, "Come, follow me."

Have you ever known anyone who took personal responsibility for their ball team’s loss because they forgot to wear their lucky cap or they washed their team jersey? They bemoan their teams loss, “because of me.”

Focus on that phrase, because of me. It suggests cause and effect. My example might seem silly, but, we know that there are many outcomes in life that are because of me. Good or bad, those outcomes are the direct result of something we did or a choice we made.

With that in mind, I want to think about something Jesus said:

Blissful are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

—Matthew 5:11

It is easy to read this and think that any persecution I encounter is because of my choice in following Jesus. There is truth in that thought, but that is not what Jesus said. He said, “...because of Me.”

We have no trouble understanding the phrase in the natural course of life. For example, as a teen, did you ever go along with a friend’s idea only to get into trouble? If your friend was a true friend they might have apologized saying, “I know that you chose to go along with me on this, but it was my idea. It’s all my fault. We got into trouble because of me.”

Now, let’s look at Jesus’ beatitude in a similar way...just to focus on the meaning of the phrase, because of Me. Jesus was telling His followers that as a direct result of following Him they could/would suffer hardship. But he made it clear that the suffering was not simply because of the choice His followers made; it was directly connected to Him, because of Him.

Some people refuse to believe in Jesus. Others embrace Jesus, but only partially. They like love and service, however, holiness and righteousness are not attractive. Those who reject Jesus or reject His teachings often also reject those who truly believe in Jesus.

So, what did Jesus do or say or demand that would cause people to persecute His followers?

Unless you believe that I am He [the Son of God], you will die in your sins. 

—John 8:24

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 

—John 14:6

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

—Matthew 5:20

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

—Matthew 7:21

If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 

—Luke14:26

If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

 —Matthew 6:15

We might experience verbal abuse or far worse for our faith in Jesus. Ironically, when we suffer because of Jesus, we find bliss.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

—Matthew 5:12

Mark Stinnett

February 20, 2022