Allow Me to Fall a Prey to the Wild Beasts
Ignatius of Antioch writes to the churches, expressing his willingness to suffer and die for God, and encouraging them to allow him to fulfill his desire.
Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes his willingness to die for God and urges the Churches not to hinder him, desiring to become food for wild beasts to attain God. He sees himself as the wheat of God, being ground by the teeth of wild beasts to be the pure bread of God, wishing for the beasts to become his tomb. Ignatius longs to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, seeking to be a sacrifice to God through his suffering and eventual freedom in Christ, learning not to desire anything worldly while in bonds for Him.
Text
I write to all the Churches, and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless ye hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may not be found troublesome to any one.
Then shall I be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Entreat the Lord for me, that by these instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God.
I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles of Jesus Christ, but I am the very least [of believers]: they were free, as the servants of God; while I am, even until now, a servant. But when I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus Christ, and shall rise again emancipated in Him. And now, being in bonds for Him, I learn not to desire anything worldly or vain.
Sermon Outline
- The Willingness to Suffer
- The Means of Attaining God
- The Goal of Suffering
- The True Disciple of Jesus Christ
- Not seeing the body after death
- Being a sacrifice to God
Key Quotes
“Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body;” — Ignatius of Antioch
“Then shall I be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body.” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- We should be willing to suffer for God and trust in His plan for our lives.
- Our desire for worldly things and vanity can hinder our relationship with God.
- True discipleship involves surrendering our lives to God and trusting in His power and provision.