February 23 | Saint Polycarp

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories, because today, imagine standing in the center of a massive Roman arena. The year is 155 AD. The air is hot, dusty, and smells of sweat and fear. Thousands of people are in the stands, looking down at you. They aren't cheering for you.

They are waiting for you to die. You are an old man, 86 years old to be exact. You are standing before powerful government officials who have the authority to snap their fingers and end your life. They give you one choice, curse Christ and worship the emperor, or burn alive. Incredibly, the man we are talking about today didn't tremble. In fact, when the officials threatened him with fire, he told them, your fire only lasts an hour. I'm worried about the fire that lasts forever.

That man was Saint Polycarp. To understand why this moment in the arena was so important, we have to look at who Polycarp actually was. He wasn't just a random believer. He was a direct link to Jesus. Polycarp was born in the year 69 AD, in the Roman Empire, specifically in what is now Turkey. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John. Yes, that John, the one who wrote the Gospel, the one who stood at the foot of the cross. Polycarp learned directly from people who had personally known Jesus.

In a time when people were spreading lies and confusing heresies about who Jesus was, Polycarp stood firm as a bishop, defending the true faith he had learned from the Apostles. Fast forward to the year 155. Polycarp is an elderly, renowned Christian teacher. The government authorities decide they have had enough of him, and they begin a manhunt. At first, Polycarp did what many of us would do. He retreated to a quiet house in the country to hide and pray. While he was there, he had a terrifying vision that revealed exactly how he was going to die, but the authorities were closing in.

The way they found him is actually quite sad. The police tortured a young man until he betrayed Polycarp and gave up the bishop's location. When the soldiers dragged Polycarp into that stadium, the government officials tried to cut him a deal. They ordered him to make sacrifices to Caesar, the Roman emperor. Polycarp refused. As he walked into the center of the arena, knowing death was waiting, something supernatural happened. Polycarp, and others present, heard a voice booming from heaven. It didn't say, run away, and it didn't say, don't worry, you'll be safe.

The heavenly voice simply said, run away, and it didn't say, run away. Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp. The officials tried one last time. They threatened to burn him alive. Polycarp's response is one of the greatest mic drop moments in church history. He said to them, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. He challenged them, saying that if they wanted to learn the doctrines of Christianity, they should set a date, and he would teach them. Still, they threatened him, and he responded, You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is extinguished.

But you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment, and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Then he looked them in the eye and asked, But what are you waiting for? Bring forth what you will. They tied him up. As the flames rose around him, Polycarp didn't scream. He prayed. He asked God to accept him as a sacrifice, thanking God for fulfilling the vision he had received. But then, the crowd went silent. The fire wasn't doing what fire is supposed to do.

Instead of burning him, the flames miraculously encircled his body, arching around him like a sail filled with wind. Witnesses said that instead of the smell of fire, they were trying to stay alive, unharmed and troubled. The arena filled with a sweet odor, like frankincense. The executioners were furious. The fire wouldn't kill him, so they had to take matters into their own hands. They ordered an executioner to stab the old man. What happened next is the final miracle of Polycarp's life. When he was stabbed, a dove came forth from the wound, and then such a massive quantity of blood flowed out of him that it actually extinguished the fire.

Polycarp served Christ for 86 years. He is venerated today as a father of the church because he was the bridge between the apostles and the generations that followed. Now, you might be wondering, what is this tough, fireproof warrior the patron saint of? Earaches. Yes, you heard that right. The man who faced down the Roman Empire and a stadium of fire is the patron saint of earaches. It's a humble title for such a giant of history, but it reminds us that the saints care about even our smallest pains.

You probably won't be asked to stand in a Roman arena this week, but you will be in situations where it is unpopular to be a follower of Jesus. The challenge for you is this. Own your identity. This week, when you are around friends who might be gossiping, or when you see something online that goes against what you believe, don't hide. You don't have to be mean, but you do have to be brave. Like the voice from heaven told Polycarp, be strong. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.