"Polycarp is a Christian!  Polycarp is a Christian!"  The raucous crowd taunted as they gathered around to watch the proceedings.  The 86 year old pastor had known this was coming.  In fact, he had dreamed about it, and at the insistence of his friends, started to skip town.  But someone had weaseled him out, and so when the guards arrived to arrest him, Polycarp was ready and waiting for them.  He welcomed them into his home and offered them a meal.

“I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan."

As the crowd continued to grow, Polycarp looked around at his accusers.  There were the Jewish leaders of Smyrna.  Standing beside them, leading the jeering crowd were two men- gnostic heretics whose teachings the elder had adamantly opposed for years.  And all around were Roman soldiers who accompanied the proconsul of the region.  The proconsul, Quadratus approached and declared, "Have some dignity in your old age.  Denounce Christ, swear allegiance to Caesar, and I will let you go free."

Polycarp looked around at the faces in the crowd- the faces of those who weren't so excited to see him there that night.  And he thought back to a letter scribed by his old mentor, John the disciple years earlier.  A letter written, not by John, but by Jesus himself.

"Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you."

The elder looked up with a smile at the proconsul.  "For eighty-six years I have been Christ's servant, and he has never done me wrong.  How can I blaspheme my King, who has saved me?"

Quadratus, who really didn't want to have to kill this old man, tried his best to dissuade him.  "I have wild animals."

Polycarp replied, "Bring them on."

"I have firewood and torches," the proconsul tried again.

And again, Polycarp returned, "Bring it on."

With a nod, Quadratus instructed that the soldiers begin building up the fire.  A few moments later, as the soldiers struggled to fasten his bonds to the stake, Polycarp graciously offered to simply remain in the flames if they were to loose his chains.  To this, they agreed.  Within minutes, the flames were growing bigger and there stood Polycarp in the midst of the fire.

"You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life." 

The pastor of the church of Smyrna died that day in the fire.  There was no last-minute saving of this old elder.  But the events immediately surrounding his death were nothing short of miraculous.  Those present that day say that as the fire grew hotter, and one would typically begin to smell burning flesh, instead all present smelled a glorious fragrance, as if there was incense being burned instead of a person.  And all the while, Polycarp stood firm, untouched and praising God, in the center of the flames.  This lasted for quite awhile- everyone standing in awe- until a frustrated guard let loose a cry of rage, rushed toward the fire, and ran Polycarp through with a spear.  According to the accounts of those present, his blood poured out in enough measure that the fire was completely put out, and Polycarp's body never did burn that night.

The reason we know so much about this pastor's death is that his congregation "remained faithful".  The account of Polycarp's martyrdom is just the second (after Stephen) to be recorded in any detail at all.  And it was done so in a letter from the church of Smyrna to other churches, to encourage them and give them hope.  Yes, that's right- the church which suffered loss wrote to others to provide encouragement.  It seems that John taught Polycarp well, and Polycarp in turn, taught his congregation well.  It would serve them well, as the Christians of the region would suffer persecution for centuries.  But they always had the promises of Jesus to fall back on, even in their darkest hours.

"Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death."