Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – St. Polycarp

23 February 2020

Text: John 7:32-53

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

 “The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about [Jesus], and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest Him.” 

Jesus had not murdered anyone, threatened anyone, stolen anything, or even talked about doing such things.  And yet, the authorities sent the police to arrest Him.  Why?  Because they didn’t like what He said.  People were beginning to wonder if He were the Messiah.  This frightened the authorities, and their only reply was to send in the temple police and use force.

Jesus’s youngest disciple was John – the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel of John.  St. John lived until somewhere near 100 AD.  John served as a bishop of the church – preaching and teaching and overseeing churches – in what is today Turkey (Asia Minor in those days).  But the church did not die off with the apostles, for these men ordained other men into the Holy Ministry.  One of John’s students was named “Polycarp.”  His name is Greek for “much fruit,” and as a bishop, his ministry was indeed fruitful.  Bishop Polycarp led Christians in Asia Minor – until the authorities did not like what he had to say in his preaching.

St. Polycarp had not murdered anyone, threatened anyone, stolen anything, or even talked about doing such things.  His “crime” was that He worshiped Jesus, and not the emperor.  So on February 23, 155 AD in the city of Smyrna where he served as bishop, the Roman authorities sent the police to arrest the 86 year old bishop.  He was offered his freedom to renounce Christ and simply pledge allegiance to Caesar.  Polycarp said, “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong.  How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”  He was burned at the stake, and gave his testimony as a martyr.

This is the miracle of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Nobody wants to die, but people will die for the sake of someone he loves.  Jesus laid down His life for us.  And His life and ministry, His preaching and teaching, were so compelling that everyone who heard Him could not help but be affected by Him.  The police did not arrest Jesus on that day, and the authorities were livid.  The officers said, “No one ever spoke like this man!”  Even the governor, Pilate, who served as the judge in Jesus’ trial, was deeply affected by his encounter with God in the flesh, and Pilate wanted to release Him. 

Polycarp’s martyrdom had a huge effect on both the Christians under his pastoral care and the Romans who executed him – though his only “crime” was his faith in Jesus.  And there were many other Christians willing to give their testimony (martyria) by laying down their lives out of love for their King and their Savior.  These martyrs deeply affected the Roman people, and the Gospel spread all over the Empire. 

In a little over 150 years after St. Polycarp’s martyrdom, even Caesar himself became a Christian, renouncing his claim to be divine, and would claim Jesus as King and Savior.

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.