John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. He prepared the way for Christ. But his voice and word alone did not accomplish the preparation. It was his blood that finished his witness to the Saviour. And the precursor’s martyrdom suggested the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before his birth, people regarded John the Baptist as a prophet. People respected and feared him. Even Jesus praised the greatness of John the Baptist. However, his martyrdom was too simple. He did not resist. Nobody stopped his execution.
There is another martyrdom in the New Testament. It is of Stephen. In fact, the New Testament reports only these two martyrdoms. It does not say anything about how Peter or Paul or other apostles were martyred. Stephen is the first martyr of the Church and the prime example of all martyrs of the Church.
Like John the Baptist and Christ Jesus, Stephen did not resist his execution. He was full of the Holy Spirit and caused many signs but did not do anything against his execution. Instead, like Jesus, Stephen prayed for his executioners and asked for their forgiveness from the Lord on behalf of them.
Man has a right to defend himself against unjust violence. John the Baptist and Stephen could defend themselves. However, they chose to suffer violence to witness the truth and bring grace to others. As Jesus willingly chose the crucifixion to bring salvation, these martyrs chose violent deaths to join him to glorify the Lord. Their deaths were not their defeats. On the contrary, their deaths won the best way to witness the truth. Indeed, martyrdom is not an end but a birth.
