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“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.”  John 19:16-18 NIV

Consider the nails, consider their purpose.  These spikes of iron were made to pierce, to be driven through wood.  

Consider the force that is required to make these spikes puncture their housing.  

Consider their use, and then consider their abuse.  

Imagine the agony they would cause when they were forced through the wrist.  Visualize the torture of Jesus holding himself up by the nails in His feet.  Can you imagine the passion that would drive our Lord to allow this to be done to him, for me, for you?

The world around you is in chaos, there are distractions of death all around.  

The Lord has promised to care for you, provide for you and send a solution.  These kinds of thoughts very well could have been on the minds of those most close to Jesus as He was crucified.  

These kinds of thoughts very well could be on the minds of many around the world today.  

I do not think it is an accident that our world is experiencing a global crisis during this season.  

The season of spring, the season of Lent, the days before Easter.  What an amazing time for us to examine the frailty of life as we prepare to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of the Savior of the World.

He is still the Savior, still the Messiah, He is still victorious. 

Because of the nails, we should not and cannot fear what may be happening day to day. 

Because of the nails, we must stand, kneel, lay prostrate on our trust in the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ.

Friends, He is still in control and He still has a plan.

Brothers and Sisters, He is COMING AGAIN and when He returns, no coins, no whips, no thorns and definitely no nails.  The final coming will be crowns of life.  Will you be ready?

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV  

Consider the nails, contemplate on the cross.

 

Rev. Brad McKenzie is Lead Pastor at Orange First Church of the Nazarene, 3810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Orange.