An Incomparable Treasure
Pastor Mark (Yu Chao) watched his father die for his faith during China’s Cultural Revolution. The Red Guard arrested his father for preaching the gospel and beat him within an inch of his life. The guards made Mark and his son watch as they tortured him, breaking several of his bones, and covering him in his own blood.
At a cemetery, they had a mock trial where they accused Mark’s Dad of being an “enemy of the state,” but gave him the opportunity to live if he would recant his faith. “We offer you this precious chance for life,” they said. “Choose wisely.”
Mark’s father responded, “You can cut my head off and you can spill my blood, but I will never forsake Jesus Christ! He has been faithful to me and has blessed me for many years and nothing you do can ever make me renounce my loving Friend and Savior!”
The guards rushed him and beat him to death to the dismay of the crowd. Looking back on the event, Mark said, “Because of the example of my father, who was willing to endure to the very end, great fruit has resulted. In Shandong province today I, his son, still follow Christ, as do my own son and my grandson. Three generations have followed the Lord, and we hope many more generations to come will, also!”
They have an incomparable treasure!
I. It is a treasure of hope.
A. Revealed in the knowledge of the glory of God.
B. Seen only by His own.
II. It is held in Fragile vessels.
A. The fragile vessel is the weakness of the flesh.
Pastor Mark (Yu Chao) watched his father die for his faith during China’s Cultural Revolution. The Red Guard arrested his father for preaching the gospel and beat him within an inch of his life. The guards made Mark and his son watch as they tortured him, breaking several of his bones, and covering him in his own blood.
At a cemetery, they had a mock trial where they accused Mark’s Dad of being an “enemy of the state,” but gave him the opportunity to live if he would recant his faith. “We offer you this precious chance for life,” they said. “Choose wisely.”
Mark’s father responded, “You can cut my head off and you can spill my blood, but I will never forsake Jesus Christ! He has been faithful to me and has blessed me for many years and nothing you do can ever make me renounce my loving Friend and Savior!”
The guards rushed him and beat him to death to the dismay of the crowd. Looking back on the event, Mark said, “Because of the example of my father, who was willing to endure to the very end, great fruit has resulted. In Shandong province today I, his son, still follow Christ, as do my own son and my grandson. Three generations have followed the Lord, and we hope many more generations to come will, also!”
A young Roman by the name of Adrian, a Praetorian Guard, under Emperor Galerius Maximian, had been a fanatic persecutor of the Christians. But the calmness and courage of those he put to the torture impressed him. Adrian, brave himself, admired bravery. In these Christians he saw heroism greater than any he had seen in battle.
It was the year 280 and Adrian was twenty-eight years old. His skill and daring had led to one promotion after another. Yet, he could not get over his admiration for these followers of Christ.
One day he asked one of the Christians being tortured:
“What gives you such strength and joy in the midst of your sufferings?”
“Our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we believe,” the martyr replied.
In a flash Adrian made an important decision. He stepped to the heathen judge and declared: “Put down my name among those to be tortured. I also shall become a Christian.”
For twenty-three years after his conversion Adrian suffered much, but he never flinched from his loyalty to Christ. In 303 he was killed at Nicomedia. For seventeen centuries since he was the patron-saint of soldiers.