John Piper Quotes

Jesus Christ was the most perfect being to ever walk this planet and he was persecuted and nailed to the cross … so please don’t be surprised when we get a little static.

We must do something about the cross, and there’s only one of two things we can do- flee it or die upon it!

I am one of the crucified dead.

As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.

I want to be a martyr.

No one can hate you in this life more than Jesus was hated.

Well, let's take what people think is a dignified death. Christ - was that a dignified death? Do you think it's dignified to hang from wood with nails through your hands and feet bleeding, hang for three or four days slowly dying, with people jabbing spears into your side, and people jeering you? Do you think that's dignified? Not by a long shot. Had Christ died in my van with people around Him who loved Him, the way it was, it would be far more dignified. In my rusty van.

To die in agony upon a cross Does not create a martyr; he must first Will his own execution.

Love makes the whole difference between an execution and a martyrdom.

The marks of Jesus are imprisonment, chains, scourgings, blows and stoning in bearing testimony to the Gospel. Galatians 6:17 - 17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Afflictions, persecutions, imprisonments, and death, we must expect, according to the scriptures, which tell us that the blood of those whose souls were under the altar could not be avenged on them that dwell on the earth, until their brethren should be slain as they were.

Let us consider what the glorious Virgin endured, and what the holy apostles suffered, and we shall find that they who were nearest to Jesus Christ were the most afflicted.

Carrying the cross does mean following in Jesus' footsteps. And in His footsteps are rejection, brokenheartedness, persecution and death. There are not two Christs - an easy going one for easy going Christians, and a suffering one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are we willing to follow His lead?

The New Testament is a brutal destroyer of human illusions. If you follow Jesus and don't end up dead, it appears you have some explaining to do. The stark signifier of the human condition is one who spoke up for love and justice and was done to death for his pains. The traumatic truth of human history is a mutilated body.

If you are going to follow Jesus, you better look good on wood.

Martyrs, my friend, have to choose between being forgotten, mocked or used. As for being understood - never.

Rather than allow themselves to be separated from the love of Christ, they submitted cheerfully to every privation, to contumely and disgrace, and to death itself.

The greatest men of a nation are those it puts to death.

Martyrs do not underrate the body, they allow it to be elevated on the cross. In this they are at one with their antagonists.

Men do not accept their prophets and slay them, but they love their martyrs and worship those whom they have tortured to death.

I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.

I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.

Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.

Brown’s execution will make the gallows as glorious as the cross.

May it please you to take away my life rather than the old religion.