Wrestlers for Christ

In his book Miracles or Magic, with co-author Al Janssen, professional magician Andre Kole tells this story: “In the days when the ruling passion of the Roman Emperor Nero was the extermination of the Christians, he had a band of soldiers known as the “Emperor's Wrestlers”. These men were the best and bravest of the land. In the great amphitheater they upheld the arms of the emperor against all challengers. Before each contest they stood before the emperor's throne and cried, “We, the wrestlers, wrestling for thee, O Emperor, to win for thee the victory and from thee the victor's crown”.

When the great Roman army was sent to fight in faraway Gaul, no soldiers were braver or more loyal than this band of wrestlers led by their centurion, Vespasian. But news reached Nero that many of the wrestlers had accepted the Christian faith.

To be a Christian meant death, even to those who served Nero best. Therefore this decree was immediately dispatched to Vespasian: “If there be any among the soldiers who cling to the faith of the Christian, they must die”. He received the decree in the dead of winter, while the soldiers were camped on the shore of a frozen inland lake. The winter had been hard, but enduring the many hardships together united them more closely.

Vespasian's heart sank as he read the emperor's message. He called the soldiers together and asked, “Are there any among you who cling to the faith of the Christian? If so, let him step forward”. Forty wrestlers instantly stepped forward two paces, respectfully saluted, and stood at attention. Vespasian paused. He had not expected so many. “The decree has come from your emperor” he said “that any who cling to the faith of the christian must die. For the sake of your country, your comrades, your loved ones, renounce this false faith”. Not one of the 40 moved.

Vespasian pleaded with them long and earnestly without prevailing upon a single man to deny his Lord. Finally he said, “The decree of the emperor must be obeyed, but I am not willing that your blood be on your comrades. I am going to order that you march out upon the lake of ice and I shall leave you there to the mercy of the elements. Fires, however, will be waiting here on the shore to welcome any willing to renounce this false faith”.

At sundown, the 40 wrestlers were stripped of all their clothing. Without a word they turned and, falling into columns of four, marched onto the lake. As they marched, they broke into a chorus with the old chant of the arena: “Forty wrestlers, wrestling for Thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee the Victor's crown”.

Through the long hours of the night, Vespasian stood by his campfire and waited. The words of the wrestlers' song became fainter and fainter. As morning drew near, one figure, overcome by exposure, crept quietly toward the fire. In the extremity of his suffering he had renounced his Lord. Then faintly but clearly from out of the darkness came the song. “Thirty-nine wrestlers, wrestling for thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee the Victor's crown”.

Vespasian looked at the figure drawing close to the fire, then out toward the frozen lake. Who can say, but perhaps he saw the greater light shining there in the darkness. Off came his helmet, down went his shield, and he sprang onto the ice crying “Forty wrestlers, wrestling for Thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee the Victor's crown”.

The number of God's 40 singing wrestlers was complete.”

Find this book at Amazon.com