Dying for the truth
John Huss (1374 -1415) studied in Prague University and became a priest of the chapel of Bethlehem in Prague. He had a best friend, Jerome who returned from England with the writings of John Wycliffe.
One day he saw two pictures in the market place. One picture was the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem – humble and sitting on a donkey with naked feet. He was surrounded by his disciples and others in ordinary clothes. The other picture was the picture of the pope in a procession with rich robes and triple crown mounted on a horse well adorned followed by cardinals and prelates with decorative garments. These pictures produced a deep impression on his mind and made him to study the Bible and Wycliffi’s writings. He understood the errors of the church and preached the word of God and truth. He condemned the evil practices of the church.
When he was ordered to stop preaching the Word of God, he said, “I will defend to the vouchsafed death the Truth of God has vouchsafed me, especially the truth of the holy Scriptures.
He was later ordered to face the general council at Constantine. He felt that he will be burnt in the stakes. Before his death he wrote to His friend, “In prison and with my fettered hand, expecting my sentence of death tomorrow… When, with the assistance of Jesus Christ, we shall meet again in the delicious peace of future life, you will learn how merciful God has shown Himself toward me. How effectively he has supported me in the midst of my temptations and trials.”
When he was asked to retract, before his martyrdom he turned to the people and said,” With what face then should I behold heaven? How should I look on those multitudes of men to whom I have preached the pure gospel? No, I esteem their salvation more than this poor body, now appointed into death.”
When he was condemned to die on the stakes, he looked to the heaven and exclaimed, “I do commend my spirit into thy hands! O Lord Jesus, for Thou has redeemed me.” When the fire was kindled around him, he began to sing, “Jesus Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and died. One of the religious leaders who observed the heroic death of Huss and his friend Jerome said, “Both bore themselves with constant mind when their last hour approached. They prepared for the fire as if they were going to a marriage feast. They uttered no cry of pain. When the flames rose, they began to sing hymns, and scarce could the vehemence of fire stop their singing.”
Huss preached the truth and stood for the teaching of the Bible. He is no more now. But the truth for which he gave his life is still with us in the Word of God. May his example of faith and sacrifice enable us to stand for the truth and offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Him.
(Dr. C Barnabas, Translated from True Discipleship May 1994)