FOR YOU AND FOR ME

Roman crucifixion(1) was an ancient method of execution in which the victim's hands and feet were tied to, and then nailed to a cross. It was a most painful and disgraceful method of capital punishment. Victims were usually beaten and tortured and then forced to carry their own cross to the crucifixion site.

In the narrative of Christ’s arrest, mock trial, and crucifixion found in Matthew 27, we find this brief reference to the beating that took place – "Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified."(v.26) This “flogging” would have been done with a whip made of strips of leather with pieces of bone and lead attached to the ends. With each blow, the flesh would be torn open. The Jews limited the number of lashes to 39. The Romans had no such limitation, and the victims of Roman floggings often did not survive what had to be a horrifically painful ordeal.
 The Roman cross was formed of wood, typically with a vertical beam and a horizontal cross beam at or near the top. In New Testament Bible times, the Romans used this awful method of execution as a means of exerting authority and control over the population. As a deterrent to crime, crucifixions were carried out in highly public places with the criminal charges posted on the cross above the victim's head.

Before nailing the victim to the cross, a narcotic mixture of wine and gall was typically offered to alleviate some of the victim's suffering. Jesus refused this. (Matt 27:34) Wooden planks were usually fastened to the vertical stake as a footrest or seat, allowing the victim to rest his weight and lift himself for a breath. A person hanging from his hands will soon find it difficult to breathe. The Romans provided the wooden planks not out of compassion, but as a way of prolonging the suffering. and delaying death for up to three days. Unsupported, the victim would hang entirely from nail-pierced wrists, severely restricting breathing and circulation. The victim could push against the wooden plank and the spike passing through his feet, the shredded flesh of his back rubbing against the rough hewn timber, raising his body sufficiently to draw a full breath. This excruciating ordeal would lead to exhaustion, suffocation, brain death and heart failure. At times, mercy was shown by breaking the victim's legs, causing death to come quickly.(2)

Death did come quickly for Jesus, but not because of an act of mercy on the part of the Romans. He was on the cross from the sixth hour to the ninth hour (Matt 27:45) – from noon until 3 PM. A few verses later, we read that Jesus cried out in a loud voice and he gave up his spirit. Christ was in control, and he willingly gave up his spirit – it was not taken from him.

Jesus, being in very nature God (Phil 2:6) could have stopped this entire process at any time. He had the power to do so, yet he did not. He endured betrayal by one of those close to him, an illegal trial conducted in the middle of the night, and humiliation at the hands of the Roman soldiers. He was spit upon and beaten. His beard was plucked out and a crown of thorns was shoved onto his head. He was flogged, laid down on the cross with his arms extended, and large spikes were driven through his wrists and feet. The cross was then lifted and the vertical beam was dropped into a hole. The cross stood upright, and he hung there, naked and in pain. Why did the Son of God endure all of this?

For you and for me.

I have a tendency to “forget” this part of the Easter story. Most of the emphasis is on Christ’s resurrection three days later – as it should be. Without the resurrection, there is no story. This part of the Easter story – his suffering – is worthy of remembrance as well, because it reminds me of how great the Father’s love is for me. Jesus Christ, the son of God, endured all of this because of my sin and the sins of the world.


Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear the phrase “the sins of the world”, my life, and my sin, seems very small in that grand perspective. Christ’s suffering seems more “generalized”, but in reality it was highly personal. His sacrifice was for me, one whom he knew already, before the foundation of the world. It was for you as well.

In Christian circles we speak of “coming before the cross”. When we do, we gaze upon an empty cross that reminds us of Christ’s victory over sin and death. We would do well to also remember what He endured for us.

May it be so…

In Christ –

John

Soli Deo Gloria


(1)Information regarding crucifixion is from “Brief Overview of the History of Crucifixion” by Mary Fairchild. http://christianity.about.com/od/goodfriday/a/crucifixionhist.htm as well as the NIV Study Bible,1995 Edition, Zondervan Publishing House.


(2)The practice of crucifixion was abolished in 337 A.D. by the first Christian emporor, Constantine the Great.

TURN ON, TUNE IN, DROP OUT

 "Turn on, tune in, drop out" is a counterculture phrase popularized by Timothy Leary in the 1960s. Leary was an early advocate of LSD experimentation. He taught psychology at Harvard, and by 1960 was experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs - first on prison inmates, then on himself and his friends. At one time, President Richard Nixon called him "the most dangerous man in America."  Leary formed the "League of Spiritual Discovery", an LSD advocacy group, and spent some time in prison on various drug charges.

I have no idea why the  "Turn on, tune in, drop out" phrase came to my mind this morning, and I want to assure you that it is not due to a flashback from a bad acid trip during my college days. Just to clarify - there were no acid trips whatsoever during my college years or at any other time in my life. For some strange reason, this phrase came to mind as I was thinking about the importance of  regular time spent in the word of God. Without apology to the departed Dr. Leary, I am going to "borrow" his phrase and perhaps give new meaning to his words.

Turn On     

Think about turning on a radio, television, iPod, or a kitchen appliance. This is most often an act of the will, is it not? The act of turning these devices on is a most often a choice. And why do we choose to turn on these devices? We do so because we want something. In these examples, what is wanted might be information, entertainment, instruction, or a good meal.

How do we "turn on" the word of God? We open the Bible, and read it.  It sounds so simple, doesn't it? I have found that there can be a huge difference between simple and easy.  It seems that there a thousand and one things that will keep me from reading the Bible - fatigue, being "too busy", the morning newspaper, the distractions of a long "to do" list... The reality is that, just as it is with the devices mentioned above, I will "turn on" the word of God if I truly want instruction, wisdom, and direction. 

Tune In         

We tune in the word of God by asking the Holy Spirit, who is already within (John 14:17), to give us understanding.  The Spirit is our "truth guide" (John 16:13). A good friend of mine laments the neglect of the Holy Spirit by the body of Christ, contending that we hear very little about the role of the Spirit in the believer's life. He may be right, and I know that the Holy Spirit is instrumental in "tuning in" the message and application of the divinely inspired word.

Drop Out

I am not suggesting we live in a monastery, nor am I starting a cult where we drop out of society and live together on a ranch in Montana. I believe that it is necessary for the believer to "drop out" of the fast-paced routines of life, and sit quietly, alone with the Lord and His word. This is actually part of the "tuning in" process.

All day long, day after day, the world sends us messages that corrupt our thinking about what is true relative to who we are, why we exist, what leads to happiness and joy, what a family is, what a woman should look like... Most of these messages are lies, and dropping out gives us the opportunity to reconnect with the truth, and the Author of truth. Jesus himself would often go away to a quiet place, apart from the crowds, so that he could pray and talk to the Father.

Remember that "dropping out" is not the same as "spacing out". My sister-law once said, "I just want to sit at home and stare." I think she meant "space out" - that state we are all in from time to time where the mind just wanders around from thought to unrelated thought, never settling. That's not what I mean when I say we need to "drop out". For me, my drop out times are when I can read from the Bible, think about the meaning and application to my life (with the help of the "Truth Guide"), and prepare myself for the challenge of the day that awaits me.

Timothy Leary's 1960's advice to "Turn on, tune in, drop out" was all about a wild ride along the edges of insanity. For a follower of Jesus Christ, it's about living a life that is pleasing to God, according to His word, and in the power of the Spirit.

May it be so...

In Christ -

John

Soli Deo Gloria

BEDROCK



The Duke Power Building


Every time I visit the city of Charlotte, North Carolina it seems that there is another building under construction. I like a number of things about Charlotte – the warmer climate, the beauty of the abundant flowering trees and shrubs, and the fact that our daughter lives there. I also like the unique designs of the new buildings.


The new “skyscraper” buildings are distinct in their architecture. One structure in particular stands out in my mind. Unlike more common construction where the top of the skyscraper is a flat roof or a pyramid shape, the top of this building slopes to the sky in the shape of a an inverted triangle, and it is lighted by colored lights at night. In the relatively flat topography of Charlotte, it can be seen from miles away.

These buildings, though different in design, have similarities in form and function. Perhaps the greatest similarity is that they are each built on a solid foundation. The design of the building is immaterial if the building won’t last, and it would be foolish and dangerous to build on anything other than a solid foundation. So it is with our lives.


In the western culture, millions of lives are “under construction”. On the outside, they look great, and some rise high, but many are destined to fall because these lives rest on unstable foundations. Some people build their lives upon their wealth, which is subject to erosion and loss. Some build upon an attractive appearance, and over time this too is subject to erosion and loss. Some build upon power and control, and eventually, like Saddam Hussein and hundreds of others over the centuries, see it all come crashing down, and they die in the rubble.

As for me, I have foolishly tried building on different foundations. I tried to build on what I thought was a high level of personal strength and self discipline. I learned (the hard way) that I am not strong, but weak, and at times very undisciplined.

I have also tried building on my competencies – those areas in which I have gained knowledge and experience, as well as those areas where I seem to be naturally gifted. I discovered that I could never have enough competencies, and that my natural gifts, when used improperly or with the wrong motivation, turned into weaknesses.

So – upon what foundation should we be building? As always, the answer is found in the word of God.

In the 16th chapter of Matthew, we find a brief yet profound catechism lesson taught by Jesus to his disciples. He asked them “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They recounted to Him what they heard among the people - “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then he asked the disciples “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Christ’s response to Peter’s words tells us all we need to know about the foundation upon which we are to build. He said “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

What was the “rock” to which Jesus referred – the rock upon which He would build his church – a church so strong that all the forces of evil aligned against Christ and his kingdom could not overcome it?

That rock is the truth claim of God. The words came from Peter’s mouth, but were inspired by the Father in heaven. This truth claim – that Christ is the Messiah – the savior – is a foundational truth and is a cornerstone in the construction of a life that is meaningful and pleasing to God.

Everyone builds their life upon some foundation, and that foundation is either true and reliable, or it is not. All of the foundational “materials” I have mentioned – wealth, beauty, power, self discipline, competencies – are ill suited as the bedrock of life. The only reliable foundation is what is true. As it is with a physical structure that rises many stories high, it is foolish and dangerous to build on anything other than a solid foundation.

There are times when my life seems and feels a bit shaky and unstable. It is good to know that the bedrock never moves.

In Christ –

John


Soli Deo Gloria