NO NAILS KEPT HIM THERE- Nov. 30th

“…behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said,”No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” Joshua 5:13b-14a

As part of my Bible reading plan, I am reading through the Gospel of Luke. My apprehension of the coming passion week is growing as it always does when I read through one of the gospels.  It is for the same reason that I find it difficult to watch the Passion of Christ.  I find it difficult to contemplate Jesus being spit upon, curse, beaten, flesh torn, and cruelly killed on a cross. I don’t like to ponder that treatment of my Lord.

However, I have to remind myself that Jesus was not subjected to that treatment. Jesus did not try and get away causing the Jews and Romans to conduct a manhunt. He willingly went to Jerusalem with the full intention of receiving that treatment. Jesus was the first man that the Romans did not force to be crucified.

Jesus allowed them to do it.

The cross is most meaningful to me, when I remember that it was not nails that kept Jesus suspended from those timbers. Jesus kept himself there – willingly.

We must remember all of who Jesus is. Yes – he is the compassionate, patient, long suffering, Lamb of God.  He is all those things while he is the commander of the Lord’s army. When Joshua met him, he had his sword drawn. Joshua’s response was to fall on his face and worship him. Demons feared him because they knew exactly who he was and what he could do to them.

John got to see Jesus clearly:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is ‘The Word of God’. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses… He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19:11-16

That is who Joshua met. That is who was standing before the Pharisees and Pilate. That is who was hanging from that cross. Do you really think that anything in this universe, heaven or earth, could have kept him pinned with iron and wood?

Jesus, the commander of the Lord’s army, willingly allowed created men to spit upon him, to curse him, to inflict pain upon his real flesh, to crucify him; he sought out that treatment, in obedience to his Father, for me and for you. That is a treasure beyond my comprehension.

The one called “Faithful and True” calls me his friend (John 15:15). How can that be? It is a friendship that I don’t deserve and could never rise to. My gratitude and amazement can only be expressed in tears of joy.

There is nothing more important to me than that friendship. May it be the full expression of my life. (John 15:14).

PRAYER: King of kings, Lord of lords – praise your Name…praise your Name… praise your Holy and Righteous Name. You are Faithful and True; you are The Word of God; you are the Commander of the Lord’s army…you are the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Praise your name.  You are my King… you are my Lord… you are my Friend.  Thank you beyond any words I can express…all praise be to your Name.    Amen