Church History for Children: An Earthquake in Antioch
Church History for Children: An Earthquake in Antioch
It was busy in the city of Antioch. People were walking in the streets to the stores or to their homes, and children were playing. Maria was also walking home. She had to pick up some fresh vegetables. Mother needed them for supper. She could already see the street where they lived. Smiling, she waved to a friend.
But what was happening? She was swaying on her legs! The ground was moving! Oh, suddenly a big hole appeared in the middle of the street! She grasped a fence and looked around with big, frightened eyes. Oh, that old lady had fallen to the ground; she wanted to help her, but she had to hold on to that fence. She heard a deep rumbling noise, terrible sounds, coming from deep under the ground. And the houses were also shaking. Oh, look! A house toppled to the ground and, there, what a terrible crash! People were screaming, running through the streets!
Maria still held on to the fence. She felt a few more shocks, and then it became still and quiet.
Suddenly, from all sides, people came running and began to dig in the heaps of rubble. They were calling out names and they listened. "Maria! Maria!" Maria looked up. A woman was running down the street, looking around with wild eyes. Oh! that was Mother! She was looking for her!
"Mom!" It was a little cry, but Mother heard it and ran to her. "Oh, Maria! You are here! Oh, Lord, I thank Thee!" she sighed and kissed her little girl. "Come on, Maria, Father is looking for you too. Let's go home. Oh, Maria, the Lord is so good to us! Our house is still standing. Come on, let's go. Father wants to go and help the other people. So many houses were destroyed."
Again it was busy in Antioch. A lot of people were out in the streets. Everywhere you could still see the ruins of the houses destroyed in the earthquake. But the people did not look at those heaps of rubble now. Today they wanted to see their new emperor, Trajan. He was coming to visit their city to see how much damage there was.
Maria stayed home with her mother. She would also like to see the emperor, but Father had said, "They're bringing an offering to the emperor. We do not belong there." Maria knew that. They could not honor the emperor as a god; they had to pray only to the true God, who was in heaven. Their old pastor, Ignatius, always told them that when there was a church service. Ignatius was a nice man. Everyone loved him. He was very old. Maria remembered that Father had once told her that their pastor, when he was young, had been taught by the apostle John.
So Maria stayed home and helped her mother with the baking. That was fun too.
A few days later…
Father came home. His face was so crestfallen. Mother and Maria looked at each other. What was the matter? When they sat down for supper, Father told them everything, "When emperor Trajan visited the city, the heathen priests told him that the earthquake was the guilt of the Christians. They did not honor their gods anymore and this was their punishment. The emperor was so angry that he immediately sent for Ignatius. They arrested him."
Mother and Maria looked at him with frightened eyes. Ignatius, their beloved pastor, in prison….
Father gave a deep sigh. "Yes, and now the emperor wants to send him to Rome to the arena." It was very quiet in the room. Nobody could say anything anymore.
Then Father said, and his eyes lit up for a moment, "The emperor mocked with our 'God on the cross.' Do you know what Ignatius said to him? He said, 'I bear that Christ in my heart. I serve that Christ with my entire soul. He suffered for my sins. He entered into death for me. Now I will be God's grain of wheat and the teeth of the wild animals shall grind me."
Again a few days passed by. It was busy at the harbor. There were many people standing there, but it was very quiet.
Maria was also waiting there with her father and her mother. Waiting – for what?
Suddenly all the people turned and looked in one direction. Ten Roman soldiers were marching down the street to the ship. Between them walked a man with grey hair.
Maria looked. There he was! Ignatius! Their beloved pastor! She felt the tears burning behind her eyes. Yes, it was really so, they were taking him to Rome.
Maybe it was dangerous to stand here, but Father and Mother wanted to see him for the last time. Maria was allowed to go with them. She looked at his face. Wasn't he scared? Oh, no! His eyes were shining!
They waited till the ship left the harbor. They waved and waved. The ship was small now, they could hardly see it anymore.
On the ship was an old man. His hair was grey, it blew in the wind. He was looking at the shore that was disappearing in the distance. He was on his way to Rome, and his eyes were shining.
Add new comment