Michelangelo Merisi, aka Caravaggio: Crucifixion of St. Peter
Today is the day assigned to celebrate the martyrdom of Peter and Paul, great heroes of our Christian faith. While the exact date of Paul’s death is not known, and Peter was crucified in October of the year 64 AD, they are both celebrated as one on 29th June every year — The Holy Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul.
These two men are responsible for bringing the gospel to the gentiles, and I, for one, am truly grateful for the fact. Peter received a word from God via a dream that gentiles were able to be saved, and Paul, after having an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, spread the word far and wide in his travels.
Jesus had told Peter that he would use him to build the church, and so He did. Thousands began to follow ‘The Way’ in the decades following Christ’s crucifixion. The fact that they were persecuted and many were martyred, did not stop them from spreading the gospel to everyone they met. Both of these great men died for the cause of Christ, never holding back or retreating.
Men and women still follow in their footsteps today and are martyred for the sake of their faith, mostly in other countries where extreme religions mean follow or die. Have you ever considered what you would do if you were threatened with death unless you denied your faith? Would you stand up for Jesus? It’s a tough one.
Romancing The Rock 
When we were in Greece, Mum, Sophie and I visited some of the famous places where Paul spoke to the people of Athens and surrounds. Back in the hotel room, we read the corresponding scriptures and prayed about our part in the receiving and sharing of the Gospel. Very humbling moments for three Aussie girls visiting family with a burden to share Christ. xx
I would love to visit some of the places that Jesus and the disciples walked. Like you, I think it would be very humbling and thought provoking. Those apostles had a hard time of it too. We have a lot to be grateful for. 🙂