For most of history Christians have been persecuted for their faith. Jesus’ life and message was so threatening to the leadership of Israel that they had Him executed, hoping to be done with Him. But then the Father raised Him up and poured the Holy Spirit out on the church. The disciples proclaimed the same world-transforming gospel and eleven of them died as martyrs (John finished his days in exile), expanding the kingdom even further. In the Olivet Discourse Jesus prepares His people for the tribulation and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by teaching them how to be fruitful in the meantime while the master is away. They did not bury their talents but invested them to great profit and entered into joy of their Lord. We ought to be fruitful in hard times because we’ve been faithful in easy times.