Key Passage
The sons answered, “Yes, we can!” Jesus said to the sons, “You will suffer the same things that I will suffer. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must have.”
— Mark 10:39 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
James and John both paid huge prices for their faith in Jesus. James was martyred early in the history of the church. John, on the other hand, was exiled to the Island of Patmos where he saw visions of what lay ahead for the church in Asia Minor—a time of persecution, apostasy, and challenge. Each gave his life in a different way to follow the Master who saw greatness in sacrifice and not in human success. O that we might have the courage to do as they both did, faithfully serving the Lord no matter what challenges face us in our lives.
Prayer
O God, you are worthy of my life. You gave it to me at my conception. I pray that you will use it to your glory. And I trust, dear Father, that you will keep it for eternity. In Jesus’ name I confess my trust in you. Amen.
Related Scriptures
You are praying for me, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me. So I know that this trouble will bring my freedom. The thing I want and hope for is that I will not fail Christ in anything. I hope that I will have the courage now, like always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth. I want to do that if I die or if I live. I mean that to me the only important thing about living is Christ. And even death would be profit for me. If I continue living in the body, then I will be able to work for the Lord. But what would I choose—living or dying? I don’t know. It is hard to choose between living or dying. I want to leave this life and be with Christ. That is much better. But you people need me here in my body.
— Philippians 1:19-24
During that same time King Herod began to persecute some of the people that belonged to the church (group of believers). Herod ordered James to be killed with a sword. James was the brother of John. Herod saw that the Jews liked this. So he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Jewish holiday called the Passover. ) Herod arrested Peter and put him in jail. A group of 16 soldiers guarded Peter. Herod wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. Then he planned to bring Peter before the people.
— Acts 12:1-4
I am John, and I am your brother {in Christ}. We are together in Jesus, and we share these things: suffering, the kingdom, and patient endurance. I was on the island of Patmos because I was faithful to God’s message and to the truth of Jesus.
— Revelation 1:9
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