“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing says faith in Jesus quite like being hated for it. 

It’s one thing to say you believe in Jesus. 

It’s another to follow him. 

And yet still another to willingly endure wrath on account of him. 

His apostles suffered unspeakable torture and death from which they could have easily escaped. 

But their experience with Jesus had been so real and transformative, to deny something which had become so innate placed that option completely off their radar. 

💯 percent sold out for Jesus is a tall order to fill, but so is being brutally and willingly crucified for humanity.