Acts 12:1-11. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on July 30, 2023.
Our title asks a question that can either be extremely uncomfortable for an American Christian, or it can be something that is so unreal that we don't give it the full gravity it deserves. In other words, we can be quick to discount it because we think that we will never face such a thing.
My goal today is two-fold. First, I believe that the point is not whether you would ever face martyrdom for Christ, but that you would have such a spiritual relationship with Christ that you could walk into the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. Even if God were to reveal to you that you were going to die for Him, it still takes faith and trust in God to walk forward and say, "Whether I live or die, it is all for the Lord!" Yes, this is easier said than done.
Second, I believe that this question is itself at the heart of being a disciple of Jesus. The word martyr actually means a witness. In English, we connect it to those who are killed for their faith because that person is giving the ultimate witness of the worthiness of Jesus. Yet, you cannot serve Jesus without dying to your own fleshly desires. In this way, all Christians are called to die for Christ while they are alive. Discipleship is continually facing this question. Is Jesus worthy of my devotion to His leading?
On top of this, all saints will eventually die, and the biggest question will not be what took their life, but whether they lived their life as a witness of the love of Christ. Our life needs to be a witness of the salvation of Jesus regardless of whether we are martyred or die in our sleep at home. This is why Jesus tells us that we need to pick up our cross and follow him. People who die for things really believe in them. God helps us to be a people dying to our fleshly desires for the sake of Jesus.
Let's look at our passage.
Luke explains another attempt to remove the apostles of the Church of Jesus. This time it is by "Herod the king." Initially, persecution came from the religious leaders and was imprisonment with threats. It was the death of Stephen that took that persecution to a lethal level. Saul of Tarsus hunted Christians down and brought them before the Council. This seemed to fizzle out after his conversion in Damascus. This introduces another serious persecution that seems focused upon the apostles themselves.
We know that this happens roughly 11-14 years after the death of Jesus because of the mention of Herod the King.
It is hard to keep track of the mixed up Herodian family, and what parts of Israel they are ruling over. Herod the Great was alive at Jesus' birth and died several years later. His kingdom was split up into four parts among his sons, but intrigues led to a soap opera like movement of who ruling what. After Herod the Great's death, there was only one person during 3 years that could be called "Herod the King," and that is Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great. He ruled shortly over all the parts of Israel from AD 41 to AD 44. By the way, his son, Herod Agrippa II, is the Herod we will meet later in Acts 25.
Herod Agrippa started by ruling over a small city north of Damascus, but through his connection to several Caesars, he was given control of parts of Israel incrementally from AD 38 to AD 41. Thus, he had rapidly rose from obscurity to Jerusalem to king over Israel. In fact, some saw this as a possible restoration of the Kingdom of God to Israel. It would be short-lived. In three short years, it would fall apart again.
We are not told why this new king of Israel would seize James the apostle and execute him with the sword. He is summarily dispatched in the span of two sentences. James was one of the top three disciples with Peter and his brother John. He should not be confused with James, the brother of Jesus, who didn't follow Jesus until after the resurrection, and is the writer of the book of James.
It is interesting that the three disciples closest to Jesus had such a variety of experience. James is the first of The Twelve Apostles to be martyred. He served as such for about 11 to 14 years. Whereas, his brother, John, lived over 60 years after the death of Jesus. He was the last of all the apostles to die. Peter was in the middle, being martyred around 30 some odd years after the death of Jesus.
With the mind of flesh, we might ask which of them God loved the most. Of course, they had argued so much about which of them was the greatest. Is James the most loved because God took him home first? Or, is John the most loved because he lived the longest? Of course, you could make a case for both, but I think the question misses the point. God loved them all, and their relative lengths of life have little to do with how much He loved (loves) them.
We will also see that there is no move to replace James as one of The Twelve like they did with Judas. Judas did not serve the purpose for which God was calling him. Whereas, James did fulfill his post. He had given witness to his nation and to the Church about the identity and worth of Jesus, the Christ. Why God only had him work about 14 years, Peter over 30, and John over 60, is an unknown to us. Yet, they were taught directly by Jesus, and empowered directly by the Holy Spirit as gifts from Christ to the new believers. They would help to ensure that the Church was founded upon a solid and true foundation by teaching and writing down the words of Christ. No one needed to "take their place, or position," after they were gone. They all finished the work that God sent them to do.
It reminds me of the parable of the workers. Some men are hired to work for the day, but more workers are needed. The owner hires new workers several times throughout the day, even hiring some to work the final hour of the day. When they were being paid, the owner starts with those who worked one hour and gave them a whole day's wage. This cause those who worked all day long to think they might get more, but instead they were paid a day's wage.
We need to understand that the labor of the Lord for each of us is not about mere numbers. God does not need to maximize all He can get out of us. Why is He not more protective of highly effective workers? Why do some lazy Christians live long lives? Historically, it is common for men and women who are spiritually powerful in the work of the Lord to die early. We have stories of missionaries who traveled to Africa to spread the Gospel and were killed in the first year. Yet, their witness broke open the Gospel in those areas.
When we became a believer, we didn't know all that the Lord would have us do, and what He was calling us to. We can look at a person who dies at a young age and think that it is tragic because of what they could have done for the Lord had they lived longer. We should be careful of this kind of thinking.
God has a purpose for each one of us that is important no matter how long it is. However many days I may have to work for Him, it is my job to be faithful to the end. The range between all of the Apostles dying was about 50 years. Yet, each one of them would step into the presence of Jesus and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" The worrying about who is the greatest and will sit closest to Jesus is all gone in that moment, as you look into the glory of Jesus and are no longer in the flesh.
So, James is quickly killed, and little is made of it. It simply was. There is a story that surface in the early A.D. 300's by Christian bishop and historian Eusebius. He relates that James actually led his guard to faith in Christ. The guard was then executed along with James. Whether this is true or simply a legend, James had done his part faithfully, whether we have all the details or not. How many people have served the Lord and there is no book to recount their exploits. Yet, the Lord knows those who labor for Him, and He will reward them fully!
We are told that Herod noticed that his execution of James "pleased the people." Because of this, he proceeds to arrest Peter, intending to execute him as well. However, it happens to be Passover week. Therefore, he plans to hold Peter until the feast is done.
Herod is a political creature of Rome. He knows that he has to please the people enough to keep them peaceful, but in the end, he really has to please his Roman overlord, Caesar. The leaders of this world have to become good at playing this tension between the people and their overlords, both in the natural and in the spiritual. To them, people like James and Peter are merely fodder for their political intrigues. We do not need such politicians. What we need are people who are willing to be servants of the rights of the people, rather than serving their own flesh. Yet, for all of their politicking, it really does come down to what God decides.
We can become so focused on the actions of politicians that we lose sight of the reality of what really matters. "O, no! Herod has executed James. Now he has Peter. O, woe is us!" In fact, up until these verses, God has protected the apostles. It is possible that the Christians had begun to think God would never let them be killed.
Herod Agrippa is actually falling into a classic trap of his abuse of power. His arrogance in the face of God will only lead to his dishonor and demise. Yet, his execution of James only gives him greater honor before Jesus. We must resist the fleshly temptation to be fixated on what the powers of government do, rather than focused on pleasing the Lord Jesus. He has the final word in all things!
In verse eleven, we see that an expectation had been built up. Everyone knew that Peter was in prison, and that Herod planned to do to him what he did to James. I'm sure there was much anticipation during the Passover feast and then the week of Unleavened Bread. I'm sure they couldn't wait for Passover to finish so that they could see the spectacle.
I pray that you can hear me when I say this. How many people are saying in their minds, "I can't wait for church to finish because there is something more exciting that I want to do." Who cares about the old ritualistic traditions of our forefathers? We just want to see something spectacular. Yet, we forget that God has an expectation too. We can be guilty of looking down on the things of God, whether in Israel or in the Church, and lusting after things that are actually in rebellion to His will. O, how we need to seek God for a change of heart, a heart that is not lusting after the things of the world, but strongly desire the things of God.
Whereas James was summarily executed, Peter is going to be freed from prison, protected by God. Yet, it is interesting that God let Peter stay in the prison until the night before he was to be brought before Agrippa and the people. We don't want to read too much into the timing, but we should at least talk about the dynamics here.
What is God doing in this delay? He could have set him free on day 1, but He waits until the last day. He may be letting Peter sweat. Maybe, this is more a time of intimacy. The Lord could have revealed to Peter what He was going to do, but it doesn't say. After the martyrdom of James, Peter could have wondered if it was his time. As each day went by, he may have become convinced that he would be executed and surrendered himself unto God's will. We just don't know.
This is where we need to learn to discipline of calming our hearts before the Lord in prayer. It is typically the questions, the things we don't know, that agitate us and fill us will anxiety. Why wasn't James released? Why did God have Peter stay in prison to the last night? Why is Peter released? We can keep asking such questions that are all about why God does what He does. However, it will not bring us peace. The wisdom of God is so far above us that we can only receive glimpses of its glimmering glory.
Thus, the best thing that prayer can do for us has nothing to do with getting answers to all of our questions. Rather, it is through prayer that we humble ourselves down before the Lord so that we can receive the strength to do for Him what He would have us do, what our flesh doesn't want to do. Therefore, when you are in times of trial, and you do not know what God is doing, quiet your questions and fears before Him in prayer so that you can receive the strength to do His will. The nice thing about being in prison is that you have tons of time to pray, to work things out with the Lord. For James, it was to die in honor to Jesus. For Peter (at least this time), it was to be set free by God in honor of Jesus. May God help us to patiently serve Him as He leads us.
During Peter's incarceration, God's people are constantly praying. We should not make too much of this, nor should we make too little of it. Did they not pray for James? Perhaps, James death happened before anyone knew about it, i.e., there wasn't time to pray. We can latch onto the concept of constant prayer as the answer for everything. We can then turn it into a mechanical lever to get what we desire from God. Prayer is never about logging in hours, or impressing God with our unceasing devotion to saying things to Him. It is about relationship.
Therefore, we must not look down on this privilege of the children of God to seek His favor in certain things that we are facing. We should not quit praying because God did not answer in the way we hoped, in the way we asked Him to do. Prayer has an element of wrestling with the Lord and discovering His purpose in the things that confront you. Jesus tells us to pray, to ask. The Word also says, "You do not have because you do not ask." We need to be an asking, seeking, people, but not just seeking the answer that we want. We are ultimately seeking the heart of God as we ask for specific help.
The best prayer always ends with a surrendered recognition that God knows best how our lives can bring glory to the cause of Christ. And yet, this should not cause us to refrain from asking for specific things out of a false piety. Wrestle with the Lord! You may come out limping, but there is a blessing in it.
Notice that Peter is sleeping on the night of his trial, and sure death. Lord, help me to be a man who can lay his head down to rest on the night of his execution. I believe that Peter has prayed as well. He has found a place of rest and peace in his soul in the midst of a turbulent time. Do you remember the time when Jesus was sleeping in the boat during a storm? Jesus wasn't afraid. He was at peace with the Father's will. Yet, Peter and the other disciples were desperately afraid of the storm. Here, we see Peter demonstrating that he has not only seen things about Jesus, but he has also learned some things from him.
In the middle of the night, Peter is brusquely awakened by an angel. He is chained between two soldiers with two more at the cell door. These men are supposed to be awake. What are the chances of four guards all sleeping, as well as those who should have been guarding the outer part of the prison? This is a supernatural sleep that has come over them. A bright light is shining upon Peter as he gets up and dresses to leave, the chains simply fall from his wrists as he stands. Multiple barred doors would be passed, but Luke especially mentions the iron gate that opened into the city from the prison. These open of their own accord before Peter and the angel. As they turn down a street, the angel is gone and Peter realizes that it wasn't a vision, or a dream. It was real, and he was free!
One thing happens with James and a very different thing happens with Peter. Even with Peter, God could have delivered him by any number of things. Yet, it happens through, what we would call, a supernatural intervention.
I have entitled this sermon, "Will you die for Jesus?" This can be a question of your faithfulness. Would you choose Christ in the face of the threat of death? Would you lay it down as an offering for His glory, and as a witness of Him to others? Yes, we celebrate as we read that Jesus is worthy to open the scroll. However, it is quite another thing to think that he is worthy for me to let go of the rest of my life and suffer death for his cause. There are Christians all across this world today who are making such choices. Sometimes you are not even given a choice. It just happens, as we see in some of these attacks on churches. Yet, Jesus is worthy of it all!
A cynic may ask what kind of God would ask such a thing from His followers. However, that question can be turned around. What kind of humans would put God in the position that the only way He could save us was to become one of us, and then sacrifice His perfect life for our sakes? Jesus is the One who has loved us to the greatest degree.
It is not that God wants us to be martyred. Rather, this is where sin leads us. Back in the Garden of Eden when He told them not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they wanted to know anyways. Knowledge here has the sense of an experiential knowledge. We had to know for ourselves. As much as our flesh likes sin, our flesh doesn't like the consequences of sin, where it takes us. The moment of pleasure perhaps is fun, but then there is the payment of the results of the decision. Those who live for the pleasures of their flesh pay a high price because we were not designed to live solely for pleasing the flesh. Thus, we destroy ourselves and the people around us through our sin. Sin leads to these kinds of places where people seek to put other people to death, or at least subjugate them. They were putting to death people who are only trying to do good things. How horrible is that? The same is happening today all around this world, these united States included.
The title of this sermon can also be read as a question about God's will. Has God decided that I will be a martyr for Him, or will I live a long life and die in my bed at home? Of course, as a general rule, we don't know what our end will be. Did God favor Peter over James? Did God favor John over Peter? These are questions of a weak faith. No, God loved them all. Yet, His purpose had differences within their lives. Thus, by a manifold and glorious witness, the Church will show forth the great glory of Jesus Christ to the nations.
May God help us not to fear His decisions over our life. I'm reminded of the song, "Lord, Don't Send Me to Africa." It is a humorous song, but there is truth in it. A man who doesn't want to serve in the nursery, will do so simply to avoid something that he thinks is worse, i.e., going to Africa. In many ways, we can be a church that is telling God that we will serve him in all these ways that we want. Be careful when you find yourself telling God the ways and places where you are willing to serve Him. Yes, He could send you to the place you don't want to go, but He could also just pass you by looking for someone who is serious about serving Him. Without saying it out loud, we have all kinds of limitations on what we are willing to suffer to follow Jesus, and it will not serve us well in the end.
Perhaps, the American Church is getting exactly what it has been asking for without realizing it. We can tell God that we want revival, but our hearts are really saying that we want exciting services that conform to our comfort level. God could care less how great our music sounds, building looks like, and soft our chairs are. O God, we will serve in any way possible to keep having fun services, but just don't send us to (fill the blank for yourself).
Think about those who sign up for the military. They all go to boot camp, and then, they receive training to be fighters. However, when they get in the foxhole during a battle, some have the mettle to face it and some do not. No boot camp and no human training can put that mettle in you.
What is the difference between courage and cowardice? I believe that at the root of it is faith. Not faith that we can't be harmed. Cowards are not able to do the right thing by trusting God. Whereas, a courageous person knows they might die. Yet, they go forward in faith that it is better to die in honor than to die in dishonor. They are not looking to die. In fact, they work hard to avoid dying. Yet, the situation becomes harder and harder, narrower and narrower, until you find yourself between that rock and a hard place. There you are. O Lord, help me not to be a coward, but instead, to bring you glory through courage.
Let me close by reminding us of Philippians 4:6-7. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
The real attack in life is not about Herod executing James, and then seizing Peter. The real attack is what such things do to our hearts and minds. Satan wants to bully you into the coward position. He wants to get between you and Jesus in any way possible.
This is why taking up your cross is so important. In the end, all Christians are martyrs (witnesses) for the Lord. We all are called to daily lay down our life and follow Jesus, whether life or death. No saints of the past are alive today. They all lived their lives and then laid them down for Jesus, whether in their beds or by a tyrant's sword. Only a person, who has lived a life of crucifying their flesh to live for Jesus, will be willing to die for Jesus because that is what they have been doing all along. May we learn to die daily so that regardless how the Lord chooses we should die, it will all be for His glory! Amen!