Weird
question but interesting.
I don’t
know if I would like to know how I would die.
Not
when but how you would die.
It’s like
knowing when the Lions are going to win the Super Bowl.
They
will win it this year but past this year, who knows.
If I
find out they wouldn’t win another Super Bowl till 2035, would I pay attention?
Would
the thrill be gone?
That’s
football, this is death.
I don’t
think I would want to know how I would die.
Yet,
this is what Jesus tells Peter in the final section of John.
Chapter
21:18-19…
“I tell
you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you
wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else
will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to
indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow Me.”
Stretch
out your hand was another way of saying, crucifixion.
If you
don’t know what crucifixion is (According to Wikipedia)….
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution
in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and
left to hang until dead. The length of time required to reach death could range
from hours to days depending on method, the victim's health, and the
environment. Death could result from any combination of causes, including blood
loss resulting in hypovolemic shock, sepsis following infection due to the
wounds caused by the nails or by the scourging that sometimes preceded the
crucifixion, or eventual dehydration.
I couldn’t
imagine being told this was how I was going to die.
Yet this is what
Jesus told Peter and Peter still followed him.
He believed in Christ
and his mission.
This trumped the
painful death he knew he would know receive.
Would you still
follow a person if he said you are going to die a painful death by following
me?
Peter did.
How can I believe
Jesus was real and worth following?
Peter.
Peter came
through and died in a horrible way for a cause he believed in.
People suffered
painful, agonizing deaths because of their faith in Jesus.
Why do I believe
in Christ?
These people were
told you can live good lives if you lie about Jesus, him being raised from the
dead and his miracles.
They choose the
painful deaths.
Jesus brings good
news to those without any hope.
He did for me and
he does for you.
We know he did
this because people gave their lives for the mission of Christ.
What would you
give your life for?
Have a great day.
