By Khen Lim
Image source: keithlannon.wordpress.com
On this day 1,951 years
ago, Rome’s most debauched emperor, Nero, retaliated against mass unpopularity
by taking it out on innocent Christians. Unable to convince the masses for the
catastrophic fire that had razed the city, Nero unleashed his fury by torturing
Christians until more names were revealed, leading to nightly spectacles where
many were burned alive, some sewn to skins of wild animals for dogs to tear apart
and others crucified.
Martyrs were displayed in
a circus with Nero presiding as a grand charioteer. He also opened up his
gardens for more such spectacles to be open to the horrified public. If he
thought he’d impress the public with his show of brutality, he was completely
wrong. Public opinion and sympathy, in fact, had swung decidedly in the favour
of Christians.
They had come to realise
that Nero was putting Christians to death to cover his own crimes and placate his
insatiable cruelty, which eventually led to countless conversions to Christ.
Perished in the hands of
Nero during these dark days was certainly the apostle Peter but also the Bishop
of Damascus and a man the Bible refers to as Joseph Barsabbas also known as Justus.
Christ had taught that as
men persecuted Him so they would His followers. A servant is not above his
master.
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