The Cross of Christ, Part 1

“Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matthew 5, verse 15. [Note 1]

“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” First Corinthians 8, verse 11. [Note 2]

I, Menno Simon, sincerely desire that all the true children of God may obtain grace and peace, a perfect understanding of the Lord, and a firm mind in all temptations, from God our heavenly Father, through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the power of his Holy Spirit, to our edification and salvation. Amen.

Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, the all-merciful God and Father, through his boundless grace and goodness, has once more, in these last times of unbelief, abominations and idolatry, in this terrible, wanton, ruthless, perverted and bloodthirsty world, revealed before the eyes of the consciences of some his blessed, only and eternal Son, Jesus Christ, who was unknown for so many centuries. He has opened again the book of the divine declarations and eternal truth, which had been closed for many centuries. Some who lay dead, not for four days only, as Lazarus did according to the flesh, but for twenty or thirty years, indeed, who slumbered all their lives in the spiritual death of sin and all ungodliness, have awakened from the foul grave of unbelief and unrighteousness and have been called to a new, blameless life. Through the preaching of his word, in the power of his Holy Spirit, he continues to call the poor, miserable, starving sheep out of the hands of the faithless shepherds and out of the clutches of the ravening wolves; he leads them out of the dry, unfruitful pastures of men’s doctrines and commandments to the green, rich pastures on the mountain of Israel, and places them under the power and protection of their only and eternal shepherd, Jesus Christ, who has cleansed and purchased them for his own through his precious, crimson blood. Because of all this, the gates of hell foam and rage. Herod, with the whole city, is beyond measure frightened and enraged because he has heard from the wise men, who are taught by God, that the King of the Jews is born. The great dragon, the old, crooked serpent who was cast out of heaven, whose head and power have been bruised and broken by the promised seed of the woman, is overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of his testimony he burns with anger. He knows well that his time is short, and therefore he carries on his works and tyranny through his children and servants, the unbelievers, with great wrath and fierceness against those who have been sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb. Annas and Caiaphas, with all the scribes, take counsel to kill Christ. Judas and all false apostles and teachers betray him and hand him over. Herod, with all his lords and princes, scorns and mocks him. The people cry out, Crucify him! crucify him! Pilate, and all who bear the sword, sentence him to stocks, fire, sword and water. The servants seize him, spit on him, scourge him, crown him and crucify him. The centurion pierces his side; the others mock, blaspheme and taunt him. Who is there who does not persecute, crucify and dishonor, with heart, word or deed, the poor, innocent, peaceful, defenseless Lamb? Indeed, this bloody, murderous tyranny had its beginning in the ungodly Cain, and fully showed its cunning, character, fruit and nature against the pious, godly Abel.

Since, then, the Lamb and its chosen members have been persecuted and killed from the beginning by the malice of the creatures of the conquered serpent; since, according to the Scriptures, this persecution will not cease as long as there are righteous and unrighteous people on earth; and since in our days especially, as in the days of our ancestors, the cross of Christ is laid on every side upon all God-fearing children who are inwardly born again from the powerful seed of the holy word, I cannot neglect to admonish my beloved brothers and sisters, my fellow believers and fellow sufferers, with the word of the Lord concerning the suffering, cross and persecution of the saints. This is related abundantly in the Scriptures, and it was abundantly visited upon our fathers, both of the Old and of the New Testament, and also upon many pious witnesses of our own days. I write so that they may, following the example of our fathers, fearlessly and valiantly carry on the contest they have undertaken, in all constancy, patience, strength, courage and valor, through the power of their faith in Christ Jesus, and so receive the promised crown. For this purpose may the Father of every good and perfect gift, through his beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord, grant us the riches of his grace, in the power of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Blessed are those (said Christ) who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I know well, worthy brothers and sisters in the Lord, that the true laborers and servants of the Lord have each planted and watered according to the gifts they have received. They have caused you to be born again of the living word of the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, and they have built in a godly manner upon Christ, the firm and immovable cornerstone. They have taught you the word, will and ordinances of God according to his good pleasure, and have united you in love, as a willing, obedient, pure bride, to your bridegroom, Christ Jesus. In full earnestness they have shown you the narrow, despised way; they have preached the cross, and have pointed out and warned you of the pains and costs of this godly building. For, as you well know, it can never be otherwise: all who want to hear, follow and enter through the right door, Christ Jesus, and walk on the highway to eternal life in the light of Christ, must first deny themselves and all that they are with their whole heart. In all misery, shame and trouble they must take upon themselves the pressing cross, and must follow the rejected, outcast, bleeding and crucified Christ, as he himself said, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Yes, all who do not stand ready to take up this grievous life of the cross and trouble, and do not hate father and mother, son, daughter, husband and wife, houses, land, money, goods and life, cannot be Christ’s disciples.

My faithful brothers, this is a true and sure word, for the eternal truth, Christ Jesus, has pointed it out and testified to it with great clearness in many places of the Scriptures. “Behold,” he says, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles,” Matthew 10, verses 16 to 18.

Again, “The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death; and you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake,” Matthew 10, verses 21 and 22.

Again, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household,” Matthew 10, verses 24 and 25.

Again, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it,” Matthew 10, verses 37 to 39.

Again, “Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake,” Matthew 24, verse 9.

Again, “They shall put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is doing God service,” John 16, verse 2.

Again, “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” “All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” “If we are dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him,” Acts 14, verse 22; Second Timothy 3, verse 12; Second Timothy 2, verses 11 and 12.

Indeed, the whole Scriptures abound with exhortations, examples and histories of the troubles, sorrows, miseries, banishments, insults, reproaches, deceptions, imprisonments, plunderings, shameful deaths and crosses of the saints.

Since, then, from the beginning of the world true righteousness, devotion and piety have been so miserably hated, persecuted and cast out, as has been abundantly shown in the case of the pious fathers, and as may be seen and found in these last times, as we have said, I consider it necessary to show from the word of the Lord to our young, weak and untried brothers and sisters who those people are who persecute us and inflict this trouble and sorrow upon us; why they do it; by what they defend their tyranny and bloody deeds as right; what profit we receive from the cross; and what is promised to those who through the power of faith overcome all temptations and extremities and keep up the struggle through Christ Jesus. I do this so that through such counsel they may be ready and prepared for all trials. Let them put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, with the shield of faith, and be girded with the sharp, piercing sword of the Spirit, in all humility, meekness and patience, with ardent prayers and sighs to the Lord, so that when some swift, unseen uproar arises against us, it does not fall on us unawares; so that an unexpected storm does not cast down our house, the heat of the sun does not scorch the growing plant, and the heat and power of the fire do not consume the works that have been built; and so that we are not drawn away and frightened into a deadly apostasy by their threats, uproar and tyranny. Therefore, my beloved, read and understand in all love, for the Lord knows that I have written this out of pure love, for the benefit of my dear brothers, according to the gifts I have received, Ephesians, chapter 6; First Thessalonians, chapter 5.

In the first place, dear brothers, I consider it very necessary that all the godly who strive under the cross of Christ, and who seek encouragement in the crosses and sufferings they endure for the sake of the testimony of God and of their consciences, should consider carefully and earnestly who and what those people are who so madly persecute, oppress and afflict them: of what disposition and nature they are, on what way they walk, and of what father they are born according to the spirit. All who observe them carefully and test them by the Scriptures will find, in my opinion, that they are not Christians but an unbelieving, fleshly, earthly, wanton, blind, hardened, lying, idolatrous, perverted, malicious, revengeful, unmerciful and murderous people. They are a people who show by their actions and fruits that they know neither Christ nor his Father, although they praise his holy name so highly with the mouth and extol it with their lips. They tread in slippery, crooked and perverted paths; they show no Christian love and peace; they bathe their hearts and hands in blood; their disposition is to seize and kill. They are children and partners of him who was a murderer and a liar from the beginning, and the whole Scriptures testify of them that they will forever bear the unbearable curse and condemnation of the righteous judgment of God and the devouring flames of hell, unless they awake from the deep, deadly sleep of their sins, sincerely repent, believe the joyful gospel of Jesus Christ, put on Christ, and so show by their whole lives and actions that they seek their God with all their might and fear and love him, whether they are emperors, kings, doctors, licentiates, citizens, peasants, man or woman. For with God, says Paul, there is no respect of persons, but whoever commits sin will bear it.

Worthy and faithful brothers in the Lord, see what a blind, naked, poor, miserable people, unwise in divine things, they are who so bitterly persecute and destroy you without mercy on account of your faith. Therefore it becomes all the true and chosen children of God, however severely they may be treated and lied about by these people, not to be angry with them but to pity them sincerely, to sigh deeply over their poor souls, and with all meekness and ardor, after the example of Christ and Stephen, to pray for their raging, cursed folly and blindness, for they do not know what they do. Who knows whether God may not give them eyes and hearts to see and know their blindness and unbelief, to see what an impure life they lead, what kind of people they persecute, and whom they have pierced.

O my beloved brothers! Look at and consider well your own former life. In former times we all served one lord and wore the same dress, as has been said. But what we now are, we are not of ourselves but of God, by grace through Christ Jesus. The mighty God, who lives forever, has according to his great mercy called us out of our accursed darkness into his marvelous light. His ears are not stopped, nor is his hand shortened; he can surely hear and help them as he helped us. If they never repent, but continue with impenitent, perverted hearts in all ungodliness, blood, wantonness and tyranny until they die, we know what the Scriptures testify of them: that they will not inherit the kingdom of heaven, but their part will be in the fiery lake that burns with fire and brimstone, and the fire will be everlasting, Revelation 21, verse 8.

Everyone, then, who reflects that his persecutors are so wholly blind and without understanding of what the Spirit directs, as said above, and that their lot will be like that of the angels of the bottomless pit, the unbearable wrath of God, death and hell, which will last forever, while the sufferings we have to endure from them for the testimony of Jesus are only temporary and momentary, will through grace, by this means, keep his heart pure from all wrath, malice and retaliation toward them, and will pray for them ardently. He will commend his affairs to God in all humility, long-suffering and peace, and will keep his spirit unbroken amid prisons, fire and water.

Again, I consider it a soft and mild salve and a cooling for our miseries and grief if we only reflect on the reason why our persecutors hate us so malevolently and destroy our name, property, reputation, welfare and lives so relentlessly. It is because the grace of God through Christ has enlightened us; because we have believed the gospel preached to us and have ceased from our blind, ruthless life and deadly works; because we desire, in our weakness, to follow in the fear and love of God after the righteousness of faith which God requires, and in obedience to the holy word; because we acknowledge the ever blessed Jesus alone as our Redeemer, Mediator, Intercessor, spiritual King, Example, Shepherd, infallible Teacher and Master; because, in matters of spirit and faith, we judge and test all spirits, doctrines, councils, ordinances, statutes and ceremonies by the Spirit, doctrine, ordinances, commands and ceremonies of Christ, and so consider the commands and ceremonies of men which are contrary to the commands and ceremonies of God not only vain and useless but also accursed and idolatrous, according to the Scriptures; because we regard and honor God more than man, and hold his high, holy, true and precious word in honor; because, according to the Scriptures, we do not listen to the unclean, unsound, idolatrous, deceiving and bloodthirsty preachers; because, in all love and as far as we are able, we admonish the whole world and set it an example with the word and sacraments of God and with humble, meek lives, though in weakness and according to our abilities; and because we rebuke and shame (though always for their good) their deceiving doctrine, their idolatrous sacrament and their wanton, earthly, fleshly life. In short, it is because we in good faith point them to the sure and infallible truth of God, to the true light and to the highway of eternal life, and so warn and alarm them as much as we can, by doctrine and life, against eternal death in hell and the wrath of God.

See, my faithful brothers, it is for the reasons listed here that the world lies, writes, shouts and preaches against all the pious and is so malicious toward them. They burn with such inhuman rage, as may be seen, that the ravening, fierce wolves and roaring lions, compared with them, cease to be wolves and lions and seem like tame deer or innocent lambs. They are so driven by the inflamed, bloodthirsty spirit of their father that they regard neither the law of God and Christ, which is love, nor reason and discretion, nor the inwardly written law of nature, by which one honest man should reasonably, according to the good pleasure of God, meet, bear with, admonish and serve another in all love. Indeed, oftentimes the natural father delivers up the son to death, and the son his father; the mother the daughter, and the daughter her mother; and one brother delivers up another on account of his faith, as has been said.

See how haughtily and maliciously, without any awe or fear, they take upon themselves the judgment seat of God and the office of the Holy Spirit. They banish Christ Jesus, the head of all princes and powers, who has all power in heaven and on earth, from the throne of his divine majesty, and with their iron sword, according to their own blind opinions and carnal desires, they also judge the chosen, God-fearing, pious hearts enlightened in God through Jesus Christ, over whom no literal sword may ever judge, for they are spiritual and are zealous from their inmost soul for God and his holy word, even to death.

See, so malicious and haughty is human reason, and so revengeful and envious is satanic hatred, that they do not fear to strive against the Most High, to pierce Christ Jesus with their murderous, deadly sword, and to persecute with all their power the Holy Spirit, the gifts, word and truth of God, and all that he commands and wants us to do.

O that God would grant that the blind watchmen of this world, I mean the preachers and theologians, would sound their horns in the right tone and at the proper time, or else let them hang on the walls, so that they no longer use them to call out tyrannically the deadly murder cry, nor deceive the carnal, blind world any longer, nor stir up the rulers and magistracy to destroy and murder the saints like hounds pursuing the roe. O that God would grant that the poor common people would grow sick of their leaven and husks, indeed, of their spiritual stealing and murdering; and that all rulers and magistrates would tear the bridle from their mouths, throw their instigators off their backs, and not let themselves be driven like dumb beasts. Then, in my opinion, it would be well with their poor souls before God. Still, I fear that the lying, murderous serpent will keep on with its envious biting, and that the striving woman, the new Eve, and her children must endure to the end, in all patience and long-suffering, its daily bites and stings in the heel.

Since I have here shown you in a few words the spirit and nature of those who destroy you and seek your property and life, and the principal, pressing reasons that drive them to do it, I will now present to my brothers some histories and examples from the holy Scriptures, for the comfort and encouragement of all miserable, afflicted and troubled hearts who suffer oppression and misery in the flesh for righteousness’ sake. In these histories and examples these things may be clearly found and traced.

In the first place, Eve, the mother of us all, bore her two sons, Cain and Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. In process of time it came to pass, says Moses, that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the field, and Abel brought one from the firstlings of his flock. The Lord regarded Abel and his sacrifice, but he did not look upon Cain and his gift. Therefore Cain was very angry, and his face fell through great wrath, just as the ungodly are always envious of the pious, because the Lord regards the pious and loves their sacrifices. Cain spoke deceitfully to his pious, humble brother Abel, who did not know the malicious, bloody heart of his brother, saying, Let us go out. And when they were in the field, Cain’s hot, envious spirit could no longer be restrained, and his bloodthirsty, revengeful spirit could not be hidden. What lies concealed in the heart must break out in actions. He rose up against his innocent brother and killed him in his fierce wrath. Why did he do this? Because Cain was of the evil one and his works were evil, and his brother’s works were righteous.

It seems to me, dear brothers, that this is a fair example and a good reference, for the righteous have always been the refuse and prey of the unrighteous, and they will continue to be so, as the Scriptures sufficiently testify and as daily experience plainly teaches.

Again, God blessed the patriarch Isaac and gave him two sons. The elder was Esau and the younger Jacob. Esau was a farmer and hunter and took great pleasure in the chase. Once, when he came home very tired, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for some food, Genesis 25, verse 33.

After this it came to pass that Jacob, through the cunning and craft of his mother, obtained the blessing of his father Isaac by taking on the name and appearance of Esau. This was the intention and will of God, to call to mind the literal synagogue and the church of Christ, according to his word to Rebecca while she was still pregnant, namely, “Two nations are in your womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from your bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger,” Genesis 25, verse 23.

When Esau became aware of this, he wept bitterly and said, Rightly is he called Jacob, for he has supplanted me twice. Esau sought the blessing but did not obtain it, for God willed otherwise, as said above.

Esau became very angry with his brother Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. His malicious, bitter fierceness broke out, and he said, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother.” Then the blessed Jacob had to flee from his dear father and mother before his wrathful brother. He fled to a distant country and served for twenty years in the house of Laban, who did not deal with him with fairness and love. He did not dare enter the land of his birth again until the Lord said to him, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you,” Genesis 31, verse 3.

My dear brothers, take note. As the patriarch Jacob was hated and persecuted by his carnal, fierce brother Esau on account of his outward birthright and blessing, so it is at the present day with all those who are called by the name of Jacob according to the Spirit, namely, true Christians, who in the power of the Holy Spirit, by means of faith, tread upon the devil, the world, flesh and blood. They obtain the birthrights that are written in heaven, and are blessed through our true Isaac, Christ Jesus, with spiritual blessings in heavenly things, to eternal glory. They are maliciously hated and persecuted to death by their carnal and licentious brothers; they must flee from one land to another and from one city to another, in great misery, hunger and distress, in prison, in bonds, with hunger, stripes, water, fire and sword, all the days of their lives, as may be seen.

So the fleshly Esau tyrannizes over the spiritual Jacob on account of the spiritual birthright and blessing, although they are both born of the same father, Adam, and of one mother, Eve, and are created after the image of God.

Thirdly, Saul, the first king of Israel, was rejected by the Lord on account of his thoughts and disobedience, and David the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, was taken from the sheep at the command of God and anointed by Samuel in his place; yet he did not take over the government during the lifetime of Saul. The Lord was with David and strengthened his hands. He did great works in the name of the Lord: he rescued the stolen sheep out of the mouth of the lion and the bear; he killed the terrible, great Goliath; he struck down two hundred of the uncircumcised Philistines. He acted prudently, rightly and valiantly in all things, for the Lord was with him. When Saul returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, the women from all the cities of Israel came out to meet the king, singing and rejoicing with all kinds of stringed instruments and tambourines, saying joyfully to one another, Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. This enraged Saul greatly, and he said, They have given David ten thousand and me only a thousand! What more can he want but the kingdom? From that day on David had no favor with Saul, for Saul sought his life secretly and openly, with great diligence and craft. Although Saul knew well the piety of David and that the Lord was with him, his heart burned with such ill will, envy, revenge and bloodthirstiness that when David escaped, the good Abimelech and the priests of the Lord were put to death and the whole city of Nob was laid in ruins for David’s sake, Second Samuel, chapter 22. [Note 3]

He regarded neither the piety, kindness, faithfulness nor good deeds of David toward him and all Israel, nor the grace, works and will of God, but became heedless and drunk with his wrath and envy, so that the enemies and betrayers of David, such as Doeg the Edomite and the Ziphites, were highly regarded and honored by him, while the peacemakers and those who gave good advice, such as his son Jonathan, were hated by him and held in suspicion. In short, David had to take flight and for some years flee from one land to another, from one wilderness to another and from one mountain to another, until Saul was overcome by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Then, in vain despair and impatience, he thrust the sword he had borne against the righteous and innocent into his own heart, and so took his own life.

So the Almighty Lord and Potentate of all things punishes the haughty, bloodthirsty tyrants, each in his time, who bear the sword of their office against God and his chosen, as may be seen in Saul, Pharaoh, Antiochus, Ahab, Jezebel, Herod and others. On the other hand, he is able to guard his chosen and help them out of all difficulties, however hard they may be pressed. This he has shown in the deliverance of Israel, when he led them through the Red Sea, and in preserving David, Helias, Elisha, Daniel in the lions’ den, and the three young men in the fiery furnace, and in many other instances.

Here again we have a clear example, in the case of Saul and David, of how the proud, reckless, self-willed and carnal princes everywhere, although they want to be called Christian princes and gracious lords, act and behave toward the true David, Christ Jesus, and all his saints, whom he has anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and who have power from above, with him, in him and through him, to overcome the fearful, infernal bear, lion and Goliath: hell, sin, death, the devil, the curse and the wrath of God. They can have peace nowhere with this evil-minded Saul, however innocent, God-fearing and pious they may be. Neither innocence nor piety, prayers nor tears, the word nor Christ avails. As in the case of David, everything must be twisted and construed for the worst. It has always been so, and in my opinion it will remain so to the end.

Still, my brothers, do not fear, for all your persecutors and enemies will grow old like a garment, however mighty, glorious and great they may be considered. “All flesh is grass, and all its goodliness is as the flower of the field.” But you will flourish and increase in God, and your fruit will never decay, for the kingdom of Jerusalem is given to you, and the glorious Lord will have honor in you, though Saul rages, and will give you the eternal kingdom which he has prepared and set apart forever for you and all the chosen, Isaiah 40, verse 6.

Fourthly, Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of Anathoth, was sanctified from his mother’s womb and chosen by God to be a prophet and a seer from his youth. He rebuked Judah and Benjamin with the mouth and law of God for their disobedience, stubbornness, transgressions, false worship, idolatry and bloodshed. He taught repentance and reformation and prophesied of the promised Messiah, whom he called the Branch and Root of David. He preached the coming punishment and wrath of God, namely, the captivity and destruction of the kings, the destruction of the city and temple, and the captivity of the people for seventy years.

And these prophecies of his, his faithful warnings, visions and rebukes from the mouth of the Lord, became to him like sharp, piercing thorns; they cast his word and admonitions aside and would not hear them. The pious prophet and true servant of God had to be regarded as their betrayer, a stirrer of factions and a heretic. The word of the Lord became to him a daily mockery. He was often imprisoned and scourged, and thrown into a foul pit. They took counsel about his death. He was so pressed by the cross that he once resolved in his heart to preach no more in the name of the Lord; indeed, he cursed the day of his birth and the man who brought the news to his father that a male child was born. So the worthy man of God had to bear the heavy cross for many years for the sake of the word and truth of the Lord, Jeremiah, chapter 20. He had to give his ear to every reproach and his back to scourging, until the floods of trouble burst upon the hardened, rebellious, unbelieving people. But alas! they saw too late that Jeremiah was a rightful messenger and a true prophet of God. Besides all this, he had to end his life in Egypt, being stoned to death as the reward for his ardent love and his hard, bitter work.