Martyrdom

Peter’s words were full of conviction…”Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you” (Matthew 26:35). Yet, as we read further, we learn that the inquiries of a young servant girl were enough to cause Peter to lose his conviction and deny his Lord (Matthew 26:69-70).

Less than 200 years later, Origen who became known as one of the “church fathers,” made a similar decision. As a teenager, Origen had decided to turn himself over to the authorities, along with his father, and die the death of a martyr. However, he didn’t. Why? because his mother hid his clothes. While he was willing to die for Jesus, he was unwilling to be seen inadequately dressed in public.

Then there is our case. Wouldn’t we all affirm that if it came down to it, nothing could cause us to deny Jesus, even the threat of death? Yet, how many who say they would embrace martyrdom could be moved from it for lesser things? While I don’t know the answer to that question, I’m pretty sure that if one is not willing to live for Jesus, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to die for him.

Did you know that the Greek word translated as “martyr” (Gr. martureo) is the same Greek word that is also translated as “witness” and “testimony?” What does that mean? It means that Jesus sent out his disciples to be (Gr. martureo) i.e. “witnesses/testifiers/martyrs” (Luke 21:13; Acts 1:8). But how were his disciples supposed to be “witnesses/testifiers/martyrs?” By faithfully recounting the things they saw and heard about Jesus. And as we know, some faithful “witnesses/testifiers/martyrs” were even called upon to forfeit their lives as did Stephen (Acts 22:20) and Antipas (Revelation 2:13).

Friends, I hope you’re already a “martyr” for Jesus. And if someday being a “martyr” for Jesus demands we must also die for him, I pray that we all have the courage and conviction to do so.