On that notable Pentecost, a mere 3,000 of the many thousands came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. This, even after his resurrection.

Peter & John were arrested and thrown in jail for preaching the gospel after healing a man over 40 years old who had been crippled from birth.

Apostles were again arrested, threatened and flogged because they continued preaching and teaching about Jesus.

Stephen was stoned to death and then a great persecution arose against the whole church causing all but the apostles to flee Jerusalem. But they went out preaching the good news of forgiveness through Jesus.

Even when congregations were established, they struggled. The first letter to the church in Corinth addressed divisions in the church, carnal mindedness, gross immorality, lawsuits against one another, and other serious issues.

Galatian churches were beset by Judaizing teachers trying to compel believers to go back to the law. The church at Colossae was being influenced by empty philosophies of the world. An entire letter was written to those ostracized from their own families & society for embracing Jesus as the Messiah. The letter of James is Jesus’ brother-come-to-faith lambasting the church for several immature & worldly behaviors.

Peter’s letters encouraged the church to bear up under the burden of fiery persecution as well as false teachers and prophets. The whole of the Revelation addresses God’s judgment on Rome for its mistreatment & abuse of God’s children.

Yet, the church remained, and continues until today.

And the message is the same. We keep preaching faith in Jesus’ & his resurrection. We keep preaching the love of God and love for one another. The message of compassion and forgiveness is still ringing out from those saved by the blood.

As the prophet Jeremiah’s comforting words are recorded in his work called “Lamentations”….. “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him”.