death-defying
"Do with me what you think good and right. But mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves, on this city and its citizens." —Jeremiah 26:14-15
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied his way out of martyrdom, at least for a while (Jer 26:24). The prophet John the Baptizer did the same thing, but was finally beheaded (Mt 14:5, 10). The Prophet Jesus used His prophetic power to escape several attempts on His life (i.e. Lk 4:30; Jn 8:59), but was eventually crucified.
We can be encouraged by this pattern because it shows that there's no stopping someone moving in the power of the Spirit. We will repeatedly escape from attempts to stop our work for the Lord. Even our deaths will not stop us. For example, John the Baptizer's death paradoxically became Herod's defeat and John's victory. Jesus' death became Satan's ultimate defeat and the Lord's victory of love, salvation, and resurrection.
In Jesus, we are unstoppable and invincible. By the power of the Spirit, we will repeatedly escape death. When we finally do die, we'll pull off the greatest escape of all by rising with Jesus from the dead. Therefore, "we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us" (Rm 8:37).
Prayer: Father, by faith in Jesus, may I laugh in the face of death.
Promise: "For in truth it was the Lord Who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear." —Jer 26:15
Praise: St. Eusebius was unstoppable as he stood up for truth and fought against heresy of his day.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Seek First The Kingdom.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2008
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