He was accused of inciting insurrection and arrested surreptitiously. He was convicted in a military court, sentenced to capital punishment and turned over to endure extraordinary interrogation techniques to force a confession and to name confederates. His execution was brutal.

His confederates, a pitifully small band of frightened men, hid and cowered, afraid that they, too, might be seized by the most powerful government on earth and suffer the same fate as their lost leader. Then, miraculously, the Master returned. His instructions to his followers were amazing. He did not demand revenge or even condemnation of his persecutors. He forgave them instead and instructed his apostles to adhere to the principles of life he so carefully described during his lifetime. He instructed them not to waiver, even though as followers they would be subjected to torture and death for spreading this gospel of love.

For 2,000 years, his ministers spread his teachings to believers who would rather die than deny them.

Today, many Christians turn away and even condone torture, capital punishment and unprovoked war as long as their temporal government, the most powerful government on earth, asks them to. But then, they are not apostles.

Michael J. Scotto
Greensboro