The Blood of the Martyrs

Suffering Is Unavoidable

God’s People Will Suffer (2Tim. 3:12)However, the manner and degree to

which they suffer is unknown and differs from time to time.

Suffering May Call for the Shedding of Blood (Heb.12:4)

God delights in this ultimate sacrifice (Ps. 116:15)

A Jewish Precedent

The OT Response to God’s Servants

Matt. 23:34f – Abel to Zechariah; Genesis to 2 Chronicles

Heb. 11:35b-38 – Climactic Examples of Faith

Mark 12:1-12 – Rejection and Murder

Same Old Story in the New Testament

The Martyrdom of JesusIllegal TrialIllegal CondemnationIllegal Capital PunishmentAll for No Cause

Jesus Ensures the Same Response to His DisciplesThe Nature of It? Matt. 10:28-34The Reason? John 15:18-16:4

New Testament Martyrdom

John the BaptistMatt. 14:3-12

The Book of ActsStephen Acts 7:52, 54-60After Stephen’s Death Acts 8:1-3; 9:1James, the Son of Zebedee Acts 12:1-3

The Book of RevelationAntipas Rev. 2:12fThe Souls of the Martyrs Under the Altar of

GodRev. 6, 17, 20

Fox’s Book of MartyrsPeter – Crucified

Upside DownJude (Thaddeus) –

CrucifiedBartholomew –

Filleted Alive and then Crucified

Simon the Zealot – Crucified

Andrew – Crucified on an x-shaped cross

Thomas – By a SpearMatthew – By a

Halberd

Matthias – Stoned and then Beheaded

Philip – CrucifiedPaul – BeheadedLuke – HangedJames, Jesus’

Brother – thrown off the Temple, stoned, and clubbed

Mark – Dragged through the city for two days

“Faithful Until Death”Tacitus on the Persecution Under NeroThe Martyrdom of PolycarpIgnatius

“Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!” As he heard the lions roaring, he said. “I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread.”

“The seed of the church is built on the blood of the martyrs.”

Justin Martyr – “You can kill us, but you cannot hurt us!”

Practical Applications For Us

Persecution Will Come So Be Prepared

This will involve various forms of mistreatment, some small, some not so small

We cannot allow this to separate us from God

Suffering is temporary, has a goal, and brings a blessing

Will you go the distance?

Will you be faithful until death?

Will you confess Jesus no matter the consequences?