Polycarp was a first century Believer and one of the first followers of the apostle John. It came to pass that Roman authorities commanded Polycarp to renounce Christ and worship the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius instead.
“Eighty six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong,” replied Polycarp. He added, “How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.”
Apparently, the Romans didn’t like Polycarp’s answer, so they burned him at the stake. Polycarp violated a common human rule: Don’t wrestle a grizzly bear when you can run instead. Yet, he wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Jesus said, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). For fun, let’s consider how the yoke of Jesus was easy for Polycarp, how the burden was light.
Let’s say being a Believer of Christ is a light burden. Let’s also describe alliance with Christ as taking on His easy yoke. So far Polycarp is in good shape. In basketball lingo, no harm-no foul.
Then persecution hits Polycarp. Persecution as in you better not pray in the town square or we’ll slap your wrist. Persecution like you better dump everything about Jesus or we’ll take your life by frying you alive.
Has the yoke of Jesus turned from easy to difficult, and the burden from light to heaviness the weight of a gazillion hippos? In the world’s eyes, yes! From a Believer’s perspective, not at all. In fact, if the easy yoke and light burden have transformed in any way then Jesus is not a man of His word. His promise must remain despite the circumstances.
Polycarp provides two reasons why Jesus’ promise remains. First, if he renounces Christ, he will be doomed forever in the fires of Hell. From Revelation 20:14-15: “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Earlier in Revelation, we find another description of those who renounce Christ: “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.” (Revelation 14:10).
Polycarp’s choice is easy. He can either endure ten to fifteen minutes of horror and pain at the stake followed by an eternity in a glorious heaven. Or he can suffer an eternity of impenetrable darkness and unquenchable thirst. Therefore, the heaviest burden and most difficult yoke becomes reality if he denounces Christ. Makes the choice easy, doesn’t it?
He indirectly cites a second reason by noting the eighty-six years of his life as a follower of Christ. In that time period, he has communed with his God through prayer, worship, Scripture, his church family, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. His love, joy, peace, goodness and faithfulness have grown to amazing breadths and depths that never could have happened without Jesus in his life. Truly, I’m simply describing many reasons why Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.
The easy yoke and the light burden have been a part of Polycarp’s life for over eight decades. Should he now toss those in the junk heap in order to avoid ten to fifteen minutes of a torturous death?
These days, it’s easy to wonder about the standing of Believers in America. We are quickly becoming the most hated group in our nation. It seems the attempts to silence us, to criminalize us increase steadily with each passing year. Ironically, we are labeled ‘haters’ when hating is one of the actions we’re commanded by our God not to do.
Will we ever be confronted the same way Polycarp was? If so, I hope we ignite the God-grown love, joy and peace within us. May our voices be strong and resolute when we proclaim, “I will not renounce my Christ. Instead, I look forward to meeting Him in person.”