Bataan

Atheist China has a problem – a BIG problem – some 100 million Christians!  And why Christians there?  Because of faithful, loving, sacrificial missionaries like Hudson Taylor, John Birch, and Eric Liddell (born January 16, 1902) – the 1924 Paris Olympian who wouldn’t run on Sunday.

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The Japanese Samurai Code gives honor to those who fight to the death thus those who surrender are despised.  The Japanese began a fierce assault on the Americans protecting Manila Bay on January 7, 1942 (one month after Pearl Harbor).  With no Navy to bring supplies, the possibility of holding the peninsula became hopeless.  General MacArthur was ordered by FDR on March 11, 1942 to leave his 75,000 men (about 20,000 Americans), which he did promising to return.

The Americans surrendered on April 9, 1942.  As “weak men” (in the eyes of the Japanese for surrendering), they were worse than ill-treated – they were slaughtered!  They, already hungry and in physical need were forced to march 66 miles to a prison camp that was not fitted to take them in.  Because they were loathed as weak, when they stumbled, paused to relieve themselves, or slowed; they were executed by blunt force, beheading, or bullet.  It is said that there was a corpse every 100 feet of that 66 miles!

General MacArthur had promised to return and he did two-and-a-half years later!  On October 20, 1944 MacArthur returned with 280,000 leathernecks.  Why were the Marines called leathernecks?  Early garb had a leather collar around the neck for protection.  But more than a term for the Marines with MacArthur, they were seasoned troops having fought on a number of islands under the blazing sun and their necks were burned, then browned and then baked and looked like leather.  MacArthur didn’t return with rookies, mere boys and old men, or the second team.  No, he came with hardened troops – 280,000 of them – and the days for the Filipino enemies and those contrary to world peace were up.  Their end had arrived in the return of MacArthur.

MacArthur had submitted to his boss (the President) and left behind his followers knowing they would be poorly and even wickedly treated – they were forced to march, were mocked, and were murdered.  And then they were subjected to disease, horrible living conditions, and continued brutality.  Their general returned to free the prisoner of war camp, end the occupation, and restore peace.

Does that all not sound like Jesus and us in this corrupt and evil world?  OK, there are significant differences such as the indwelling Holy Spirit, the use of wrong, death, and evil to bring converts into the King’s army, and the King being actively engaged giving directions, strength, and answering cries – yet there are some parallels.   Consider:

1.) The Leader submitted to authority (John 17:4)

2.) The Leader looked weak (Mac left) – Jesus was slapped, whipped, and impaled

3.) The Leader left His people and promised to return (Acts 1)

4.) The Leader’s people were seen as weak and despicable (Acts 8)

5.) The Leader’s people were told to submit (I Peter 2:13)

6.) The Leader returned in force (Revelation 19:14)

7.) The enemy commander defeated (Satan removed, Revelation 20:2)

8.) All the enemy army and sympathizers removed (Matthew 24:38-41)

9.) Order and Goodness rule (Revelation 20)

Jesus submitted to the Father’s will, laid down His life then rose, and left His followers, promising to return to conquer the evil and bring in peace.  “Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!”