He Was Nailed

He Was Nailed

Read Colossians 2:13-15

Hi there and welcome to Reedy's Devotional Moments. Easter is the most significant period for Christians as millions across the planet remember the death of Jesus Christ and then celebrate His resurrection.

When Leisl and I journeyed on the wonderful Savannahlander through the gulf country of northern Queensland, one of our stops was at Barwidgi. At Barwidgi we hopped out to have morning tea and a look around and I went for a brief walk along the track and found some disused iron nails that were once used to fasten tracks. This is one of them. It’s heavy, long, and quite thick.

Apparently, the nails used by various ancient cultures were similar. Archaeologist have discovered many nails that are believed to be used by the ancients for crucifixions. In fact, back in the 1990s archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority excavated a Jewish burial cave from the first century AD. The cave contained 12 ossuaries which are limestone boxes that Jews of this period traditionally placed the bones of the deceased once the bodies had decomposed. One of the ossuaries had an inscription with the name “Caiaphas” and another with the words “Joseph son of Caiaphas.” Several scholars believe that this cave was the family tomb of the high priest whom the Gospels say handed over Jesus to Pontius Pilate and the Romans to be executed. What has caused interest and speculation is that one of these boxes contained two ancient nails. The Israeli geologist who led the research found microscopic traces of wood and bone embedded in the metal nails, which they say strongly indicates that these 2,000-year-old nails were at least involved in “a” crucifixion. Many have speculated if these were the actual nails used to crucify Jesus of Nazareth?

When I hold this nail, I think of the pain that Jesus endured having at least three similar nails hammered through His body onto the cross. How awful. Peter who probably witnessed the crucifixion declared fifty days later: “…and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23 NIV). Nailed to the cross. Just awful. The pain. The Blood. And then death.

Years later, the Apostle Paul took up the symbolism of the nails and wrote what crucifixion of Jesus Christ means. He says, “…He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:13-15 NIV).

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, remember that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, had nails like this hammered into his arms and legs. As the nails were driven through His body onto the wooden cross so too were your sins. Jesus died so that you would be forgiven.

Let’s pray. Dear Jesus. Thank you for dying for us. I can’t imagine the horrific pain you endured with every blow from the hammered that drove those nails through Your body onto that cross. I’m sorry that my sins took You to the cross. O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Palm Sunday

Read John 12:12-19

Hi there and welcome to this week’s Devotional Moments. This is the most Holy Week in the Christian Church’s Calendar as we head towards Easter. To put the wheels in motion, Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey on a day that we now call Palm Sunday.

John says that a “great crowd” had gathered, many with palm branches which were often used in victory marches. They were chanting and singing Hosanna which means save us. Jerusalem was always Jesus’ destination. Just before His entry, Luke wrote in 9:51, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NIV). Why? Matthew wrote, “From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21 NLT). But why Jerusalem? Jesus gives us a clue in Luke 13:33 when He said, “Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on My way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!” (Luke 13:33 NLT). It was in Jerusalem that many of the prophets died (1 Kings 19:10; 2 Chronicles 24:19; Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 26:20-23). It was also in Jerusalem that all trials of prophets took place before the Sanhedrin. Jesus knew this, and so He resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

So Jesus planned for such an entry into Jerusalem with crowds cheering Him on because He knew that it would enforce the Jewish leaders act. John recorded that the Pharisees who were at this parade became increasingly frustrated (John 12:19) and went away and plotted how they were going to kill Him. Five days later they succeeded.

Let’s pray. Lord Jesus. You knew that Your time had come and instead of going in the opposite direction, you resolutely set out for Jerusalem where you would be tried and killed. In this Holy Week, help us to be mindful of what You went through for each of us resulting in our forgiveness. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

David Moyes

Before Abraham, I AM

John 8:58

‘“I tell you the truth”, Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” – At this, they picked up stones to stone him.

“I am” is one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever said. It is a phrase Jesus says quite a lot in John.

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)

“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)

“I am the door” (John 10:7)

“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)

“I am the resurrection and the life” (john 11:25)

“I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6)

“I am the true vine” (John 15:1)

But in this instance – the Jews were ready to kill him. Why? Because “I am” is one of the central meanings of Yahweh; the revered, most holy name of God, and Jesus uses this “I am” statement in the context of positing himself as greater than Abraham, the father of the Jews!

For the Jew, only God is Greater then Father Abraham & here is Jesus saying, before Abraham was ie – before he existed in the past. “I AM”. Jesus is saying, he was present then, and still so now!

This is as close as we come on the lips of Jesus to a direct confirmation of what John said of him in chapter 1, In the beginning was the word, the was with God, the word was God ; The word became flesh and lived among us…”

Here, Jesus is clearly declaring himself as God, and the crowd reacts predictably, just as many readers and thinkers have been reacting ever since.

In Jesus’ day they wanted to stone him for blasphemy. These days, people want to discredit him and those who testified about him (like you and me) as talking nonsense.

Jesus is certainly the eternal son of God, through whom all things were created. Don’t ever be ashamed of following him.