The 20th century could well be labeled "the century of martyrs." Thousands of Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world have been imprisoned, tortured, and murdered on account of their faith. In fact, more Christians have been killed for their faith during our century than in all the previous centuries combined.

Does God care? Does the blood, pain, and death of Christ's witnesses mean anything to Him?

The first Christian martyr was Stephen. He was stoned to death for his allegiance to Jesus Christ, and a young man named Saul consented to his brutal murder (Acts 8:1).

Shortly after Stephen's death, Saul was traveling to Damascus when he was knocked to the ground. He heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (9:4). Saul might have wondered, "You? I didn't persecute You. His name was Stephen." Yet the voice declared, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (v.5).

Every stone hurled at Stephen was hurled at Christ. Every stone that hit him hit Christ. Every pain he felt, Christ felt.

The Lord Jesus knows when we are hurt for His sake. He experiences our pain. No attack comes to us that Christ does not feel. He is a sympathetic Savior.  — Haddon W. Robinson