Cowards Become Martyrs

All the disciples fled in the darkest hour when their lives were at stake. But it is very moving to see in church history that probably all of them except John died a martyr's death (John, however, died alone in exile on the island of Patmos, where he was for the sake of his faith). How did this change from cowards to martyrs come about? On the one hand, certainly through the purifying, bitter experiences of Golgotha, as we can imagine in the case of Peter in particular after his denial. On the other hand, the idea also suggests itself that the disciples received the necessary strength to suffer and die for the Lord, especially through the indwelling of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More from PentecostThis name (Greek) is used twice in the New Testament and means "the fiftieth day.” This refers to the 50th day after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This day... More onwards.

Here are a few historical remarks:

• The so-called "unbelieving" Thomas (although his unbelief only lasted a week) probably died as a martyr in India (although in Roman times, the area could also have meant the Parthian or Persian Empire).
• Andrew was crucified at the time of Emperor Nero by Aegeas, the governor of the GreekUnlike Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews; Acts 6:1; 9:29), Greeks, in the narrow sense of the word, come from Greece and have at least one Greek parent (Acts 16:3 in connection with... More prefecture of Achaia. Church history does not agree on whether it was because his ministry led to the conversion of Aegeas' wife or because the discipleDisciples are students and followers. Examples are disciples of the Lord (Mt 8:23), of John (Mt 11:2), and of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16). A disciple learns from his teacher, abides... More refused to worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More idols. As the cross is described as X-shaped, his memory can be found today in St. Andrew's cross, for example.
• James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was the first martyr of the disciples. Acts 12:1.2 occurred in the year 44 AD: "Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some of those of the congregation to maltreat them, but he had James the brother of John put to death with the sword." It is interesting to note the - admittedly historically unverified - report that James' guard is said to have been so impressed by his boldness before the execution that he also converted and was executed with James.
• An ancient source reports on the end of Bartholomew, who is also said to have worked in the region of modern-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran: "The king tore the purple robe in which he was clothed and ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods and, after he had been scourged in this way, beheaded."
• Peter, whose end is already announced in John 21, was probably crucified upside down under the brutal and anti-Christian Emperor Nero - some historical accounts suggest that this could have happened in Rome.

Whether we experience physical persecution, bullying at work, being made fun of at school, or being ostracized in the neighborhood, it honors the Lord when we suffer for him – and ultimately with him, as Paul describes it with his term "the fellowship of his sufferings" (Phil 3:10). Let us ask the Lord for the courage to stand faithfully by him, whatever disadvantages it may entail. Our reward is certain: "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Rom 8:17).