Persecution and Courage: February 5th Devotional

Persecution and Courage

Matthew 10:28

February 5th Devotional

      On this day in 1597, 26 Catholic missionaries to Japan were executed via crucifixion.  Originally Catholic missionaries were welcomed by the people of Japan, though Christianity was never looked upon favorably.  The original missionaries arrived roughly fifty years earlier.  The Japanese shogunate only allowed their existence with the hopes that their presence would build trade relations with Western Europe.  The faith grew as thousands came to know Christ.  This culture with zero knowledge of Christ quickly founded newly built churches sitting alongside ancient Buddhist Temples.  It didn’t take long for this position of tolerance to fade away.  Soon the Japanese Imperial government banned Christianity and demanded that those who refused to recant be executed.  The imperialist society of Japan considered Christianity as a threat to their way of life.  Many of those converted were Buddhist.  For many Japanese people, Buddhism was a vital part of their culture.  To leave Buddhism meant not being Japanese; it meant you were abandoning your culture.  Soon Christians were rounded up and murdered for their faith.  26 Catholic missionaries were rounded up in December 1596 by Japanese authorities.  They were tortured and physically beaten.  Many of them had their left ears cut off.  They were paraded for roughly 600 miles through the streets of multiple cities until they arrived at Nagasaki.  It was in Nagasaki that the 26 faithful missionaries were crucified on a hillside for everyone to see.  They were also impaled with lances.  The goal of the Japanese government was to exterminate Christianity from their shores forever.  One would think that the missionaries were terrified, but one missionary named Luis ran to the cross asking which one was his.  When he found out he hugged it with tears in his eyes.  Luis was unique.  Many believe that he was the youngest to die that day, probably around 12 years old.  He had an opportunity to recant, while most of the others were not given the option.  The young Luis refused the offer saying “for it is not reasonable to exchange a life that has no end for one that soon finishes.”  As the crosses were raised one priest, Paul Miki preached his final sermon, inviting the executioners to come to Christ.  The 26 sang before giving up their life with the words “paradise, paradise.”  

     For many of us, persecution is a foreign term.  We couldn’t envision suffering for Jesus, let alone the stark reality of martyrdom.  But for centuries the faith of our fathers endured through suffering and death, refusing to recant and quit on Jesus.  In all reality Christians around the world still suffer for their faith, some even pay the ultimate price.  What would happen if we would face that kind of persecution?  How should we respond?  Jesus gave us an image in Matthew 10:28.  Jesus gazed into the future knowing the anguish that His followers would one day face.  He said “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).”  Jesus said to not submit to fear.  Not just a normal seemingly rational fear, but a fear of being killed simply because you are a Christ follower.  He gazes into our eyes and says “do not fear.”  One would imagine we would be granted with a license to fear at least in that situation, but even in this Jesus says, give not give in to fear.  HOW?!  We need to take our eyes off the persecutor and the suffering and put our eyes on Jesus.  Look to Him who goes through life’s valleys and hardships with us.  We can suffer faithfully because He faithfully suffered and paid the ultimate price for our redemption!