Jesus. That’s what you need to know. Let me explain.

Many people want to hear stories of the persecuted church, intrigued by the atrocity, the anomaly. They want to know how it is that close to a hundred thousand Christians die each year around the world for their faith. Or they want to know how to pray. Or they think being “informed” will remove their guilt over inaction when it comes to their personal commitment to Jesus or investment in his work overseas.

But what would those actually suffering persecution want us to know?

The Persecuted Church Wants You to Remember Jesus

We find the answer in a letter in the Bible, written from a persecuted Christian to a young pastor. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us what persecuted people would want us to know.

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:8-10 NIV)

“Remember Jesus,” Paul says. He doesn’t draw attention to his pain, and certainly would not want his listeners entertaining thoughts about his brutal sufferings. He doesn’t even demand that they remember him in this case.

“Remember Jesus,” he says. In other words, “remember why I am suffering.” The “why” behind all Christian persecution is a “Who.”

“This is my gospel”—what is? Jesus. Jesus is the good news Paul is both proclaiming and facing persecution for. This tells us something about Christian persecution. Christians don’t arbitrarily stand by, suffer for, or die for creeds of opinion or personal conviction. We stand by a Person.

We stand by and for the King of kings, who gave his life for rebel sinners like us so that we could know God again.

And we don’t stand by a Jesus nailed to a cross. We stand by a Jesus “raised from the dead”—which says two things. First, that he is God. And second, that he is undefeated. We’re willing to stand by him because he has already proven to us that for all who believe in him, death is just the doorway to eternal life. So for us, to live is Christ—it’s life with him—and to die is gain—it’s eternity with him (Philippians 1:21).

The Persecuted Church Loves Jesus and Loves People

The whole Bible story is about hope for the world, a hope that’s bigger than this life, a hope that’s stronger than the pain we may face. We may be chained up for our faith, but our Savior couldn’t be chained by death itself. He still speaks through our Bibles, by his Holy Spirit. His Word is what saves people; it’s what people most need.

We love Jesus so much that we would endure anything for others to come to know him and love him too. Because we know that a life of knowing God is the only life there really is. What can we gain if we give up our souls (Matthew 16:25-26)? What do we have that’s more precious, more eternal? Jesus came to save our souls, our true selves, us. Because God loves people. They’re his priority.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV).

This life is available to all who hear the message about Jesus and believe. It’s eternal life, and it keeps us from perishing eternally in hell apart from the good God that came to save us (John 3:16).

The Persecuted Church Wants You to Know Jesus

What do you need to know about the persecuted church? Jesus. It’s who all believers live for, it’s who suffering Christians are dying for.

Jesus “who loves us and frees us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5 NIV).

Jesus, who promises to bring those who trust in him “safely to his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18 NIV).

Jesus, who “when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 NIV).

Jesus, who stands by his people, lives within them, and has promised to be with them always (2 Timothy 4:17; Romans 8:11; Matthew 28:20).

Jesus, who is “near, at the very gates” and “surely coming soon” (Matthew 24:33; Revelation 22:20).

We may be persecuted for holding fast to the words between the covers of our Bibles. But we shall never be torn from its hero who holds us between his hands—not even in death (John 10:28). Him we love most in this life.

Those suffering under persecution would want you to know what they’re suffering for: Jesus.

Do you know Jesus?