Trust Jesus. (Easter 2024)

John Rogers, of whom the world was not worthy, was burned at the stake in the year 1555 in Smithfield, England. He was 55 years old, only 4 years older than I am. What was he like? Why did he die such a death? What choices, priorities, and perspective led this man to such an end?

Very little is known or recorded concerning the first 30 years of his life. After his conversion, he was ordained to the ministry and became a scholar at Oxford, then settled on the European continent for a greater part of the next 22 years, after which he returned to England.

Rogers then gave himself to the English translation of the Bible and perhaps ought to be given rank along side William Tyndale and Coverdale as being one of the authors of the first English translation.

In 1547, Edward VI came to the throne of England. Being a Protestant, Edward afforded freedom of worship which the land enjoyed for a season. It was during this period that Rogers gained prominence in the leadership of the English Reformation.

But things changed with the death of Edward VI and the coming of Queen Mary, “Bloody Mary”, as she came to be known. Her sentiments were just the opposite of Edward’s, being a devout Catholic who hated the Protestants and freedom of worship.

Rogers was made a prisoner, first at home and then in the jail at Newgate in England in January of 1553. His wife was not allowed to visit him at all and apparently he suffered severe treatment from the jailers. Rogers was pressured to compromise and renounce the Protestant faith, but he affirmed that he would not. His death was soon to follow. It happened in this way.

When the time came for his execution, he was brought by the sheriffs of Newgate to Smithfield, where the following conversation took place.

One of the officers ask Rogers if he would revoke his abominable doctrine and his evil opinion of the sacrifice of the mass. “That which I have preached, I will seal with my own blood,” Rogers replied.

“Then,” said Clergy Woodroofe, “Thou are a heretic.” “That shall be known,” said Rogers, “at the day of judgment.”

Rogers was then brought to the stake, quoting a Psalm as he came, with the people who witnessed his testimony wonderfully rejoicing at his constant firmness in the face of the fire. His own wife and 11 children met him on the road as he went to the stake, the youngest of the children being a nursing infant in its mother’s arms.

When he was attached to the post, the fire was put under him, and when it had taken hold of his legs and shoulders, he, as if feeling no pain, washed his hands in the flame, as though it were cold water. So says recorded history.

After lifting up his hands to heaven, not removing them from the fire until the flames had devoured them, mildly and firmly this happy martyr yielded up his spirit into the hands of his Heavenly Father. Even a few moments before his death, a written pardon was brought to him if he would recant, but he refused.

John Rogers was the very first of the English martyrs who died under the reign of Bloody Mary. J. C. Ryle says that before Roger’s death, there was no example of a Protestant of the Church of England enduring death rather than recanting his convictions. Rogers was the first in England to “break the ice” for the gospel and prove that the grace of God was sufficient to sustain a believer even in the fire.

On the day Rogers was burned the French Ambassador to England, wrote these words:

“This day was performed the public and solemn sacrifice of a preaching doctor named Rogers, who has been burned alive because he persisted in his opinions. As he was conducted to his death, the greatest part of the people were not afraid to make him many exclamations to strengthen his courage. Even his children assisted him, comforting him in such a manner that it seemed as if Rogers was being led to a wedding.”

What would lead a man to walk with humble anticipation to his public burning? What would lead his wife, children, and congregation to line the streets to encourage him on his way to the stake?

I would submit to you this morning, on this glorious resurrection Sunday that at the heart of John Rogers death was the simple fact that He trusted Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV)

”And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Men like John Rogers, John Bradford, John Philpot, and many others gave their lives for the sake of Christ and the truth of His Gospel. Paul himself was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.

So, we see in 1 Corinthians 2 that the impact of the gospel isn’t based in lofty speech or the wisdom and logic of men. Impressive words and worldly wisdom will not save your soul and transform your life. But, as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 2:5, the thing that matters is that your faith rest in the power of God.

Faith that rests is a faith that trusts.

Faith is the confidence and belief in God and His promises. But faith must rest, and when it rest it becomes action that trust… Trust is a verb. It’s something that you do or act upon.

Let me illustrate the difference with the story of Charles Blondin and Harry Colcord in 1859. Blondin was the best tightrope walker of his time and in 1859 he became the first person to tightrope 1,300 feet across Niagara Falls. Harry Colcord was his manager and friend.

After setting up the rope they ended up with a 50 foot section in the middle that didn’t have any stabilizing ropes connected back to the bank.

There were tens of thousands of people present to see if Blondin could make it across the Falls. On the evening of June 30, 1859, Blondin began walking slowly across from the American side headed to the Canadian side.

When he made it past the center section people say that he ran the rest of the way. On his way back he took a camera on his back and stopped in the middle and took a picture of the crowd. He packed the camera back up and made his way across for the 2nd time. After this he continued to go back and forth… and this continued for several weeks.

Blondin walked backward, blindfolded, backflipped, pushed a wheelbarrow, and even cooked an omelet during one of many trips across the rope. Later in August, 1859, after he had crossed to the Canadian side, the crowd was horrified as Blondin reappeared on the rope with his manager, Harry Colcord, clinging to his back. A few guy ropes snapped during their transit, but Blondin never wavered and safely made the crossing.

It was later reported that Blondin told his manager, “Look up, Harry…you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. Until I clear this place be a part of me, mind, body, and soul. If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself.”

Everyone watching believed and had faith that Blondin could make across, but Colcord trusted him enough to climb on his back and allow him to carry him across.

The way that Paul describes the goal of faith is that it will rest, or trust, in the power of God. This is faith that takes steps of action to depend fully on God to save you from your sin and in turn trust him by living according to His Word and ways. Colcord had to look foolish in the eyes of everyone else watching, and trusting God may look foolish to the world around us.

Earlier in his letter to the Corinthians he said this: “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 (ESV)

The power of God in chapter 2 is the word of the cross in chapter 1, and in chapter 15 as he brings the letter to its conclusion Paul writes, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

My hope, prayer, and goal for today is that you will simply Trust Jesus. And that you will trust him actively with your past, present, and future.

Trusting Jesus means believing in His crucifixion and resurrection

The Crucifixion accomplishes redemption and forgiveness of your sin

Propitiation… Jesus died in the place of all who believe

The Resurrection accomplishes the defeat of sin, death, and satan

Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The hope of Christ is tied to the resurrection.. if he hasn’t been resurrected then this is all in vain.

I Corinthians 15:12-19 says,

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Trusting in Jesus means…

Recognizing your sin Accepting His forgiveness Surrendering (salvation) Receiving eternal life

Trusting Jesus means abiding in God and His Word

1 Corinthians 15:1-4, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”

What does it mean to abide? The word itself means to remain, be present, be held and kept, and dwell.

“Abiding in Christ means allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections.” Sinclair Ferguson

Resting in his grace, not your own efforts Learning from Him so that you can live in a way that is pleasing to him Relying on Him in the face of temptation, struggle, and in times of joy and gladness.

Trusting Jesus means abounding in the work of the Lord

Abound means to exist in large numbers…

Trusting Jesus means that your life is filled large amounts of living for God. You may not have spent the last few days or weeks living large amounts of your life for God. But, trusting in Jesus means that the goal and aim of your life is to honor and glorify the one who has saved you from your sin, forgiven you, and given you eternal life.

Abounding in the work of the Lord means that you know that what Jesus did on the cross and through the resurrection was not in vain.

It means that you know and believe that your faith in him is not in vain.

And abounding means that you don’t take the Lord’s name in vain… He hasn’t saved you in vain, so let your life be filled with large amounts of living for Him!

And I know that large amounts of living for Jesus can result in raised eyebrows from friends and family members. I know it can result in the loss of popularity, you might not get promoted, you might not meet everyone’s expectations…

Living in large amounts, or abounding in the work of the Lord is possible because Christ has secured victory over death and sin. You are free from the chains of sin to live for the glory of God!

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-5

As we close today I want to say it one more time…

Trust Jesus.

What can people say about you?

Do you trust Jesus like Harry Colcord clinging to the back of his friend Charles Blondin as he tightropes across Niagara Falls,

Come to Jesus today and be saved!

What are people going to say about us?

Do they talk about the way we live confused and even bewildered? The Word and way of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing… and this means that we cannot hide our faith and trust in Jesus.

The truth is we shouldn’t want to. At a time when so many people and church’s are trying to be known for something else other than Jesus… We need to follow the example of Paul and “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

We should take the example of John Rogers and walk with our heads up and our hears bursting with joy into whatever waits for us each day, knowing that what truly waits for us are the open arms of our loving, merciful, and risen Savior.