King of the Jews....

“He Chose the Nails”

                In our Lenten reflections for 2017 we will focus on Jesus

and the scene where He is being prepared to die on the cross.  Jesus is on the cross and above him is a poignant sign – trilingual, hand-painted and Roman commissioned. It states, “The king of the Jews.” A sign which muight reveal two truths about God’s desire to reach the world.

1)      There is no person he will not use.  

The criminal on the cross beside Jesus turns to Jesus and acknowledges Jesus as king of a kingdom and wants to be remembered by him. Why? We do not know other than he could read the sign above him and the criminal knew he would soon die. He was saved. He saw the sign and believed. Had Pilate intended to spread the story of Jesus in a positive way or what was Pilate’s intention for this sign. Maybe it was to mock the Jews but the thief came to know Jesus as God’s Son. How many others did the same?

2)      There is no language God will not speak

Every person who walked by that day could read the sign for those who could read would know Hebrew, Latin or Greed.  Hebrew—the language of Israel and religion; Latin- the language of the Romans- law and government and Greek the language of Greece and culture. Christ was named king in all three.

In which language does God speak to you?

REFLECTON:

What is significant about the nails that Jesus received, other than these nails applied to the cross gave a fastening technique for Jesus’ body is that the nails were familiar to Jesus already. He knew that once the nails were put in his hands, he would no longer be able to put off death. He knew that he would die and commend the Spirit. He also knew that God the Father would enable something to happen to let others knew that Jesus is the son of God. But what about you? As the nails pierced Jesus’ hands and feet, Jesus prepared to die and it would happen soon.

Why should it matter how Jesus died, it is important that he died for our sake. Why is Jesus’ death so significant to us as Christians today? Because he loved us then, and loves us now and wants us to believe that he chose the nails for us so that we might be reconciled with God. Are we ready to choose to follow?.

                PRAYER    Loving Saviour Jesus, we praise you for you opened your hand to receive the pain and agony when you did not deserve this. We pray that your passion would enlighten us to realize the depth of your love for us. Hear our prayers as we continue this Lenten journey and try to understand why you ‘chose the nails’ for our sake. Amen.

Reflections based upon Max Lucado,  He Chose the Nails, ch.4