Being True God and True Man, Christ had come into the world to save sinners. When He, being the Word of God & the Truth, made known the Gospel to those around Him; many rejected Him because they knew Him not. Because of the fact that men have put their pride above Truth, they persecuted Him in many forms.
When His Majesty, Our Lord Jesus Christ, made known to the Pharisees that He was God Almighty in John 8:58-59, we can see that He had stones thrown at Him. In Matthew 12:24, Christ was also accused of doing works of the devil because of His casting out of demons. Not only was our Lord persecuted in these very examples, but He also persecuted in such a fashion that He was spat upon, beaten, scourged, & forced to carry & endure the Holy Cross even to the point in where He was crucified upon it to the point of death.
With that in mind, let it not be forgotten that no servant is greater than his master. (John 15:20, Mt 10:24, Jn 13:16) Since we are members of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5, 1 Cor 10:17) While all of us may not be persecuted in the exact same form, and while many of us may not be maryred (God Willing), we should not be surprised if we also come across being persecuted for the Truth; that being Jesus Christ & His Body, the Holy Catholic Church. As Matthew 10:28 says, let us not fear! : “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
In the Byzantine Rite during Paschal season, we Chant: “Christ is Risen from the dead trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.” As they say, there is the light at the end of every tunnel and a rainbow at the end of every storm. So while we may suffer for the truth now, we shall rejoice since our reward will be great in Heaven. (Rev 2:10, Matt 16:24-25, Matt 5:10, Rev 6:9-11)
May God give us the hearts and courage of the martyrs!
Holy Synergy 