Willing to Die for It

The Faith of the Apostles and the Power of the Resurrection

Brothers and sisters, today I want to speak to you about a faith so unshakable, so absolute, that it led men to endure the most excruciating deaths rather than deny it. This is the faith of the apostles, the men who walked with Jesus Christ, saw His miracles, heard His words, and witnessed the resurrection of our Lord.

They were not men of fiction or legend. Their deaths are recorded in history, and their martyrdom stands as irrefutable proof that they were not willing to die for a lie, but for the absolute truth: Jesus is God.

The Deaths of the Apostles

Let us take a moment to reflect on the cost of discipleship. These apostles, who could have lived comfortable lives if they had recanted, instead endured the most brutal deaths because they knew the power of the risen Christ.

• Peter - Crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero. Peter felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord and requested to be crucified differently.

  
  

• Andrew - Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece. For two days, he preached to those passing by as he hung in agony.

  
  

• James, the son of Zebedee - Beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem (Acts 12:2). He was the first of the apostles to be martyred.

  
  

• Thomas - Speared to death in India, having carried the gospel far beyond the Roman Empire.

  
  

• Philip - Crucified in the city of Hierapolis. He continued preaching even as he hung from the cross.

  
  

• Bartholomew (Nathaniel) - Flayed alive and then beheaded in Armenia. His skin was torn from his body while he preached the gospel.

  
  

• Matthew - Stabbed to death in Ethiopia while celebrating the Eucharist.

  
  

• James, the son of Alphaeus - Thrown from the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. When the fall did not kill him, he was beaten to death.

  
  

• Thaddeus (Jude) - Beaten to death with clubs and arrows in Persia.

  
  

• Simon the Zealot - Sawed in half in Persia for refusing to bow to pagan gods.

  
  

• Matthias - Stoned and then beheaded.

  
  

Each of these deaths testifies to one simple fact: they would not have willingly endured such agony if they had conspired to fabricate the story of Jesus Christ. Men may die for beliefs they mistakenly think are true, but no one dies for what they know to be a lie.

The Apostle John 

Ok this is my favorite of all the accounts. While John was not martyred, he was boiled alive in oil but miraculously survived. 

It is said that Roman emperor Domitian commanded that the apostle John be boiled to death in oil, but John only continued to preach from within the pot. Another time, John was forced to drink poison, but, as promised in Mark 16:18, it did not hurt him. Thus John, the head of the church in Ephesus at the time, was banished to Patmos in A.D. 97.

John survived all of this because God had not finished with him yet. A “revelation” still had to come. While he was in a cave on the island of Patmos, John received a vision. This vision became the book of Revelation—the book that would act as the driving force for evangelism in the church age. It prophesied the events that surround the return of Christ. John wrote of Christ’s second coming and welcomed his arrival. Even today his writings inspire believers to anticipate the glorious return of Christ.

Historical Accounts of Jesus' Miracles and Resurrection

Even beyond the Bible, secular historians from the first and second centuries acknowledge the existence of Jesus, His miracles, and His crucifixion.

• Tacitus (Roman historian) - Writing in Annals (c. 116 AD), Tacitus confirms that "Christus," the founder of the Christian movement, was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. He describes the "superstition" that spread rapidly, even as Christians faced persecution.

  
  

• Josephus (Jewish historian) - In his Antiquities of the Jews (c. 93 AD), Josephus mentions Jesus as a "wise man" who performed great works and appeared alive to His followers three days after His crucifixion.

  
  

• Pliny the Younger - Writing to Emperor Trajan, he discusses the early Christians and their worship of Christ "as a god."

  
  

• Lucian of Samosata - A Greek satirist who, while mocking Christians, confirms their belief in the resurrection of a man named Jesus.

  
  

Eyewitness Testimonies of the Resurrection

The Bible records numerous eyewitness testimonies of Jesus' resurrection. After His crucifixion, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the other women at the tomb, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to the apostles on multiple occasions.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 that Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom were still alive at the time Paul wrote his letter. The sheer number of witnesses, combined with their willingness to suffer persecution and death, lends undeniable credibility to the resurrection account. This multitude of eyewitnesses testified boldly, spreading the gospel across the known world.

The Power of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of our faith. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." The apostles' unwavering conviction, despite torture and death, stands as living proof that they saw the risen Christ.

It was this resurrection power that emboldened Peter to preach at Pentecost and Thomas to proclaim, "My Lord and my God!" after touching the wounds of the risen Savior. It was this same power that caused Saul of Tarsus to transform from a persecutor to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

Conclusion

Dear friends, the apostles were willing to die because they encountered the living God in the person of Jesus Christ. Their blood speaks even now, calling us to stand firm in our faith. If they were willing to die for Him, are we willing to live for Him?

Let their testimony embolden you. Do not waver in the face of trials. The same Jesus who walked with them walks with you today. He is not merely a prophet or a teacher; He is the Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the courage and sacrifice of the apostles who laid down their lives for the truth of Your resurrection. Fill us with the same boldness and faith to stand firm in the face of trials. May we live each day as witnesses to Your glory, walking in the power of Your Holy Spirit. Strengthen us to proclaim Your name and to love You with all our hearts. In Your mighty name, we pray. Amen.