A friend recently shared this with me after our Voice of the Martyrs Conference. While this could seem counter productive, I think it's important as Christians that we realize that when Jesus says to count the cost, and to take up our cross, He means just that. How often have people been sort a cheap comfortable form of Christianity that does not include trials and pain?
And yet the Bible tells us that "All that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
This may be a bit hard to read, but it's very powerful and convicting. Don't miss the verse I have to share at the end.
How Christ's Apostles Died
2. Mark: Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke: Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.
4. John: Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave
of persecution In Rome . However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos ..
He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was
later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died
as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
5. Peter: He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors
that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James: The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet
down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny
his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his
enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
7. James the Great: Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a
lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately
beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched
amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked
beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he
declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept
beheading as a Christian.
8. Bartholomew: Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our
Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching
in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
9. Andrew: Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped
severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to
prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward
the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and
expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body
of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For
two days until he expired.
10. Thomas: Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to
establish the church in the Sub-continent.
11. Jude: Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
12. Matthias: The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
13. Paul: Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67.
Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many
epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire.
These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity,
form a large portion of the New Testament.
Wow - now if you have second thoughts about being one of Christ's disciples, for we have no idea what future we will face, remember this: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are NOT worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18
Review:
- Bible Thought: Count the cost!
- Blessing: He helped His discipled to the end, and He will carry us through as well…whether we die as a martyr or just an ordinary person.
- Battles: I think the bigger task is learning to be a living Martyr…in other words, continuing to die daily!
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