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A profound change of heart made these men Christian martyrs

Whenever I have doubts about my faith, I find great comfort in reflecting on the Saints of the Bible. Those disciples and apostles gave their very lives because of what (or rather Who) they believed.

I am blessed to live in a country with religious freedoms. I’ve never been forced to choose to renounce my faith or die for it.

But others have. Three in particular inspire me in my faith: James, Peter, and Paul.

James

James was one of at least six siblings of Jesus (James, Joseph, Simon, Judas and sisters). Initially, he didn’t believe that his brother was who He claimed to be.

For even his own brothers did not believe in him. (John 7:5, NIV)

Imagine growing up with a sibling who claims to be the Messiah. So what changed his mind? What would cause him to go to his own death to support the notion that his older brother — the man he grew up with — was truly the Son of God?

What changed?

He met Jesus, the Risen Lord.

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:7, NIV)

Jesus showed Himself to James after His resurrection. James witnessed the risen Christ. Any doubts he had up to that point vanished at that moment.

James went on to be one of the main leaders in the early church. He was martyred by stoning.

Peter

Peter was one of the first disciples to be called to follow Jesus. He was a fisherman with a reputation for impulsivity and arrogance.

Although he claimed he would follow Jesus to his death, he actually denied Christ three times on the night He was betrayed. Peter ran and hid. He didn’t even go to the crucifixion.

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” (Luke 22:61, NIV)

He feared for his life and was so disappointed Jesus died that he returned to his job as a fisherman. So what changed his mind? What would cause him to go to his own death to support the notion that his master — the man he followed but died — was truly the Son of God?

What changed?

He met Jesus, the Risen Lord.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. (John 21:12–14, NIV)

Jesus appeared to Peter forgiving him for his betrayal in denying Him. Any doubts he had up to that point vanished at that moment.

Peter went on to be one of the main leaders in the early church. He was martyred by crucifixion.

Paul

My personal favorite is Paul. He was not a follower of Jesus. Originally his name was Saul of Tarsus and he persecuted believers in the early Church.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1–2, NIV)

Paul was a member of the Pharisees, a Jewish group of holy men who wanted to preserve Jewish law and tradition. He was on a violent campaign to silence any followers of Jesus. So what changed his mind? What would cause him to go to his own death to support the notion that his nemesis — the man whose followers he persecuted — was truly the Son of God?

What changed?

He met Jesus, the Risen Lord.

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:21 NIV)

Paul went on to be one of the main leaders in the early church. He was martyred by beheading.

What these men have in common

All three started with doubt, fear, or antagonism toward Jesus.

They saw Jesus alive after He was dead.

They became pillars in the early Church.

They died gruesome deaths defending their belief.

I feel blessed to be encouraged in my daily faith by these men who faced death rather than deny Jesus Christ.

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