We often times forget about the consequences of those who truly love Christ. Consequences you say? What consequences…to be embraced by everyone, warmly welcomed, praised, recognized, and loved? If that’s the consequences of truly loving Christ then sign me up!
However, Jesus forewarned His disciples of something completely different than being welcomed, praised, and loved…rather He said: “You will be hated by all because of My name” (Matt. 10:22, Mark 13:13), “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-20) and “You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me.” (Luke 21:16-17)
It is evident that after Jesus’ crucifixion, and after witnessing how much the world hated Him, reality set in and the disciples scattered in fear for their lives (Matt. 26:31, Mark 14:27). Even Peter who boldly stated he would never fall-away denied Christ three times in fear of his own life (Matt. 26:33,34, Matt.26:69, 73, 75).
But what happens next is nothing short of a miracle from God and the Power of Jesus Christ working in the lives of these disciples who TRULY loved Him. For the moment Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples and instructed them to go out and Preach and Teach everything He had taught them (Matt. 28:19, 20), entered a locked room (John 20:19), presented His crucifixion wounds (Luke 24:39), and sat to eat and drink with them (Luke 24:41-43), the fear they once experienced which had them scattering for their lives were completely gone.
Peter for instance took charge, the same man who denied Christ three times and cowardly hid himself behind the crowd began preaching to over a hundred twenty men (Acts 1:15), boldly defending those who mocked them (Acts 2:13, 14), and sternly warning everyone to Repent! (Acts 2:38, 39) Even the Disciple John had this same boldness and openly proclaimed Christ even if it meant being jailed (Acts 4:1-3, v.13) Paul the Apostle, who Christ presented Himself to on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-9), immediately and boldly PREACHED Christ, not just to the people but to the very religious leaders who detested Him (Acts 4:20-22)
However here is what we need to be reminded of, something we should always look back to as a recap of Jesus’ warning regarding the “hate of the world“, and it is the simple truth that every one of Jesus’ followers were hated and killed.
- John the Baptist, beheaded for pointing out the king’s sin
- Stephen, was stoned death. 34 AD.
- James (Son of Zebedee) was beheaded in 44 AD.
- Philip the Apostle was crucified in 54 AD.
- Matthew the Evangelist killed with a halberd in 60 AD.
- James, beaten to death with a club after being crucified and stoned.
- Matthias was stoned and beheaded.
- Andrew, Peter’s brother, was crucified.
- Mark the Evangelist, was dragged in the streets of Alexandria then beheaded
- Peter, crucified upside-down.
- Apostle Paul, beheaded in Rome.
- Jude was crucified.
- Bartholomew flayed alive and crucified.
- Thomas the Apostle was killed by a spear in Mylapore, Madras, India in AD 72.
- Luke the Evangelist was hanged.
- Simon was crucified in 74 AD.
- Antipas of Pergamum, according to tradition, roasted to death in a brazen bull during the persecutions of Emperor Domitian, c. 92 A. D.
- (Note: John the Evangelist according to legend was cooked in boiling hot oil but survived. He was the only one of the original twelve Apostles who was not martyred).
So why are so many Christian Evangelist today recognized and loved by the world? People like Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, and even Hawaii’s own Wayne Cordeiro is adored by millions! Even unbelievers relate to their message of Peace, Love, and Hope. However let me ask you, these disciples that died, these followers of Christ listed above, did they not also preach Peace, Love and Hope? And if so, why were they hated and killed? Simple, it is because their message of Peace, Love and Hope was not polluted with worldly influences, but inspired by the God-Breathed scriptures! It was not compromised, distorted, or hidden for the sake of not offending anyone, but rather it exposed Sin, Falsehood and Deceit…and because of this the world hated them.
I pray we can look upon this list of TRUE followers of Christ and be reminded that the Love of Christ will be with us always, to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:20), and like these martyrs who were moved with boldness because of the power of Christ within them, we too will have the strength enough to stand strong against falsehood, deceit, and sin no matter what the consequences bring! Amen!
In Christ Jesus,
Marc
1 Thess. 5:21 