Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

Just because something appears to be supernatural doesn’t mean it’s from God.

THE YEAR was 1108, and the place was Antioch. For centuries pilgrims had journeyed freely from western Europe to visit the Holy Land. The Muslims who controlled Jerusalem from the seventh century did not interfere with these pilgrimages. However, by 1071 the fierce Seljuk Turks not only captured Jerusalem from their fellow Muslims but also defeated the Byzantine Empire. This led to Turkish control of Asia Minor (modern Turkey).

Rumors swirled through Europe of mistreatment of pilgrims by the Turks. In 1095 the Byzantine emperor sent Pope Urban II an urgent appeal for military assistance. Urban’s response was to organize the First Crusade to regain the Holy Land from the infidels. Offering the incentive of full forgiveness for past sins to those who joined the Crusade, Urban was able to raise an army of five thousand knights and infantry from France, Germany, and Italy.

On their way to Jerusalem, the crusaders were finally able to capture Antioch, but only after a bitter nine-month siege. However, no sooner had the crusaders taken possession of the city than a Turkish relief force arrived and surrounded the city, holding the very positions the crusaders had held a few days before. The crusaders were now near starvation. Not wanting to kill their horses for food, they drank the horses’ blood to keep themselves alive. A crusader relief force approached the city, but when the commander saw the immense size of the army surrounding Antioch, he quickly fled with his army rather than try to save the starving crusaders.

At this pivotal moment a crusader named Peter Bartholomew, known more for his frequenting of taverns than his skill as a soldier, announced that the apostle Andrew had appeared to him in a vision and told him that the lance that had pierced Christ’s side lay buried behind the altar of the church of St. Peter in Antioch and that if the Crusaders would raise the lance against their foes, they would be victorious.

The date was June 14, 1098. The Crusaders immediately began to dig behind the altar as directed by Bartholomew. After others had dug for a whole day, Peter Bartholomew jumped into the excavation, asking the bystanders to pray that the lance would be found. Then he furtively slipped an old Arab spear he had concealed under his garment into the dirt and began to dig himself. Clanging against the spear with his shovel, Bartholomew triumphantly pulled it out of the dirt. Holding it aloft, he shouted, “See, what heaven promised, the earth preserved, the apostle promised and the prayers of a contrite people obtained!” An awestruck chaplain kissed the lance. Hope and excitement filled the crusaders as they paraded through the city, singing and praising God for giving them the lance. Peter Bartholomew was dressed in gold and fine clothes and presented with expensive gifts.

Two weeks later the Crusaders, energized by the apostle Andrew’s promise of victory and carrying their “holy” lance before them, confidently attacked the Turkish army and were victorious.

Reflection

Have you personally been aware of things that appeared to be supernatural but that you doubted were really from God? How can we prevent ourselves from being deceived? Just because something is supernatural doesn’t mean it is necessarily from God. Never forget that Satan is the great deceiver.

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. See, I have warned you.

Matthew 24:24-25