The Blood of the Saints

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9 Most of the martyrdom of the early followers of Christ, and the gruesome details surrounding these events, are relatively absent in

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15 Yesterday we looked at Stephen’s martyrdom. Saul played a key role in it and the subsequent persecution of Christians (Acts 8:1-3).

And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Acts 22:20 Perhaps the martyr whose death received the most attention in the New Testament (along with John the Baptist) was

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 During Easter, we often concentrate on the specific episode of Jesus being crucified. No doubt that

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 John the Baptist was a curious character. You can admit it: we all think he was weird for wearing camel skin

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. Job 1:21 The first line in the book of Job sounds like a fairy tale: “In the land

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 The ten

“Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel 6:20b Let’s look at the other famous story from the book of Daniel. It is arguably one of the top five or ten most well-known stories

“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!‘” Daniel 3:28a It was the time of the Babylonian captivity. Daniel and three fellow Hebrews, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were chosen to enter the king’s service because

Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do?” Jeremiah 32:3a Jeremiah and Job could probably have related to each other. Both went through horrible ordeals, and they sometimes wondered where God was in the midst of it all.