The Plague of Cyprian

The year was 260 AD and a dread invader had the Roman Empire on its knees.  It was not the Huns or the Goths or the Vandals.  It was the Plague of Cyprian.

No one knows for sure what this virus was that tormented the Empire for the next several years.  Some speculate that it was Small Pox, but most feel that it was some sort of Hemorrhagic Fever -- possibly something like Ebola.  In the days before gene sequencing and virus tracking websites, you didn't know what disease it was, only that it was bad to get.  Really bad.

Death was everywhere.  At one point 5000 people were dying every day in the city of Rome.  Even the wealthy were not exempt as two emperors fell beneath its scourge.

People fled from those afflicted with this disease, afraid to be even with their family members who were dying with it.  Only the Christians in communities remained behind to care for the sick and dying.

It is written that those Christians dressed the sores of those sick with the disease.  They brought food to those in need.  They did this in spite of the fact that many of the Christians ended up catching and dying from the same illness the people they were caring for had.

Even as Christians died, Christianity grew.  It wasn't just the love that they showed that convinced unbelievers to join with them.  Rather, it was their fearlessness and joy in the face of a hemorrhagic fever that had no earthly treatment.

I look at my response to COVID 19 and wonder if I have the faith that my forefathers had?  Do I have a love for others that conquers my fears?

Adversity does not just build character, it reveals it.  Those of us who claim to love Jesus would do well to show it through our willingness to provide hope and comfort and care for those in need.

We should abide by social isolation -- not because we are afraid, but because we love those around us.  At the same time, as servants of Jesus, our hearts and minds should be ready to give, to help and to support those who are in need.

1800 years ago a plague built up the church, even as it wiped out its members.  There is even more need for the hope Christians have today.   I pray that we might serve Jesus today and that He would replace our fear with love.