“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Today I remember the “21 Coptic Christian men,” martyred on a Libyan shoreline — February of 2015.
White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them. Revelation 6:10-11
I’m mindful of their families; wives, children, mothers, fathers, and those who love them, — all living in the shadows of persecution. I think of a small dusty village; al – Our in Egypt’s Minya Governorate — home to thirteen of the twenty one men.
Three years ago Libyan Islamic State (IS) militants released video footage of the martyrdom of Coptic Christian men in Libya. The footage of their martyrdom included a caption that read — “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.” The 21 men who knelt before their persecutors were identified as ‘people of the cross’, and asked to deny their faith or die. Many of the men are seen uttering their final words on this earth — “يسوع المسيح, Rabbina Yesua, (Lord Jesus Christ.)”
While it was reported that all of the men where Coptic Christians from poor villages in Upper Egypt; it was later discovered that this wasn’t the case. One of the men martyred that day was identified as Mathew Ayairga; a young man from Chad. He is believed to not have been a Christian before kneeling in the sand beside the ‘people of the cross.’ Witnessing the courage and faith of the Egyptian Christians he also chose to follow Jesus. Mere moments before Matthew was executed, His executors are seen asking “Do you reject Christ?” His reply was “Their God is my God.” Matthew joined his brothers that day — and laid his life down alongside them. He and the other 20 men joined the ranks of those of whom the world is not worthy.
I can only imagine the reception they received as they stepped out of their earthly bodies and took in their first breath of heaven.
The martyrdom of these 21 men by IS sparked the Bible Society of Egypt’s biggest campaign ever. A Bible tract was created and sent to print within 36 hours following their public executions. Titled “Two Rows by the Sea,” it carries a message of hope, comfort, and forgiveness for both Christians and Muslims alike. The Bible tract has been widely received in Egypt with 1.6 million copies being distributed immediately.
Two Rows by the Sea
Two rows of men walked the shore of the sea,
On a day when the world’s tears would run free,
One a row of assassins, who thought they did right,
The other of innocents, true sons of the light,
One holding knives in hands held high,
The other with hands empty, defenseless and tied,
One row of slits to conceal glaring-dead eyes,
The other with living eyes raised to the skies,
One row stood steady, pall-bearers of death,
The other knelt ready, welcoming heaven’s breath,
One row spewed wretched, contemptible threats,
The other spread God-given peace and rest.
A Question…
Who fears the other?
The row in orange, watching paradise open?
Or the row in black, with minds evil and broken?
The vivid video footage depicting the killing of the 21 men did not spark division among Egypt’s population consisting of approximately 10 percent Christians and 78 percent Muslims. Quite the contrary. The declarations of faith uttered by the men only moments before their death; created fertile soil for conversations between Muslims and Christians.
A brother of two of the Christian men martyred that day went on live television to thank IS for including their faith filled words in the media released to the world. Other family members of the men are quoted as saying:
“I’m proud of my son. He did not change his faith till the last moment of death. I thank God. Malak is with his father now. Jesus. He is taking care of him.” – The mother of 25-year-old slain laborer Malak Ibrahim.
Last month in the same village; al – Our, Egypt, a church was dedicated in memory of the 21 men, — al – Shohadaa’ (Martyrs) church. Families of the men began planning for a church in their honor shortly after their deaths. The idea of a church being erected in their honor was not welcome by many in the village and surrounding areas. In the initial planning stages the idea was met with Molotov cocktails and an angry mob.
“There were already cars on fire. People had been bloodied. Stones and bricks had been thrown.” — Mina Abdelmalak, Coptic Christian
Today the dreams of the martyrs families are alive — in a church dedicated to their sacrifice. There are hopes of bringing the remains of the men, (identified in a mass grave on the shores of Libya), to rest in the church building.
“the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” – Tertulian
Evil can inflict pain, suffering and temporal death upon Christians but, — it can never kill their stories. The testimonies of Martyrs echo through the halls of history. Their music can’t be silenced. Songs of love, faith, courage, and forgiveness. Sounds that can be heard in the surrender brought about by the blood of the martyrs. Its melody piercing the most calloused of hearts. Moving it’s listeners to their knees, and leading them to the cross. There is a beautiful finale to the persecution of Christians —this is the other side of Martyrdom.
