The Nails That Pierced Christ

Continuing on with my research on the torture implements of Christ's Crucifixion, I want to focus on the nails this time around. Common misconception is that the nails were driven through the palms of the hands. To be "hung" by nails would require placement of the nails in the middle of the wrists between the radius and ulna bones and then capped off by the carpel bones. This would be the only placement that would be able to support the full weight of a grown man. The description below shows that this placement would have been exceedingly painful because of the severing of the median nerve in the center of the wrist. Keep in mind, my purpose for telling you all of this is not to gross you out, it is to show how true love is this, "that a man should lay down his life for a friend..." On top of that, Christ's sacrifice was not your everyday run-of-the-mill roman execution, this was the worst of the worst kind of execution in human history. And to think that he would do that for sin-stricken people like us! We better wake up praising God every day, and proclaiming his truth every breath, if we really want to respond in a way that would only scratch the surface of the glory that God deserves by giving us this wonderful gift of eternal life in him!
What do you think?


Crucifixion Nails

These nails are reproductions of what is best known about the type of nails used in Roman Crucifixions.

The nails used in Roman Crucifixions were driven into the wrists and feet of the condemned criminal. The nails would have been thick enough to support the weight of the person and had a flat top to them so that the victim’s wrist wouldn’t easily slide off. This diagram shows the placement of the nails being close, if not severing, the median nerve of the wrist leading to the hand. In addition to the continuous pain of the open wounds as a result of the scourging, the constant sharp pain of severed nerves added to the torture of Christ’s suffering for us.

“Spikes about 7 inches long and 3/8 of an inch in diameter were driven into the wrists. The spikes would hit the area of the median nerve, causing shocks of pain up the arms to the shoulders and neck.”

Christ's Suffering

It is sad that when we talk about Jesus' death we just casually say something like, "oh Jesus was crucified for our sins..." As we near the coming of Good Friday and Easter, I want to dive into the not-so-casual truth about crucifixion.

I've been put in charge over a specific portion of our Good Friday services this year. The portion or "area" that I'm the lead researcher for is called "The Torture of Christ" and it is a museum style area that will feature historical accurate recreations of the torture implements that Christ endured for us. One that I've been very sobered by in my research is the instrument that was used for the scourging of Christ. I found one guy (www.naturesdesignsonline.com) who did a TON of research on the validity and historical accuracy of what he has recreated as the first century "Roman Flagrum." Part of his ministry is taking one of his whips to prisons and youth detention centers and demonstrates on cardboard boxes the severity of the damage inflicted by a torture instrument like this, tying in how Christ, though having the power to send legions of angels to rescue him, endured this torture for us. We are actually purchasing 7 of these whips for our good friday services this year for our congregation to view and touch and be informed about.

In researching this subject, I've periodically caught myself reading the screen and my mouth is wide open in amazement that anyone could endure what Christ endured for us. Here is a picture of a modern recreation of a 1st century roman flagrum as well as the description that I wrote that will be used in our Good Friday services this year. Read this and give thanks for our Savior who endured such excruciating torture and death for us.



Roman Flagrum
“Cat-Of-Nine-Tails”

This recreation of a first century Roman flagrum is the most accurate speculation of the instrument used in the scourging of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Also known as a “cat-of-nine-tails” this instrument was used with the purpose of bringing the accused to the threshold of death.

In the first century, a Roman scourging was referred to as “the sting of the scorpion” and most often preceded a crucifixion. There were three types of scourgings that Christ endured:

1.) “Fustigatio” – a beating with rods or canes of a less sever kind.
2.) “Flagalletio” – A more harsh flogging with rods or whips
3.) “Verberatio”- A scourging of the most severe kind, done with a particular scourging implement known as “the Scorpion” which was imbedded with nails, sharp scraps of bone from the forehead of a ram, and heavy circles of bronze and lead. Often the thongs ended with metal fishhook type spurs that would catch on the skin and pull off large strips of flesh, muscle and fragments of bone. Most of the time the bare rib bones of the victim, and spine would show… This type of scourging fulfilled the scriptures that spoke of the persons back as if it were a freshly ploughed field – “The plowers plowed upon my back. They made long their furrows” (Psalm 129:3)”

A victim who was sentenced to a “Verberatio” scourging had very little to no chance of surviving even if he was still living by the end of the scourging. The blood loss and infection to come would result in the certain death of the victim. Crucifixion to follow a scourging served to expedite the victim’s death by suffocation.

Come back soon as I keep you up to date on my research and more scientific truth behind the severity of our Savior's crucifixion.

What does it mean to "love" God?

Two scriptures to start out my blog today:
1 Cor 2:9-10 (ESV)
"But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

Rom 8:26-28 (ESV)
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

When I was in high school, I was a people pleaser. I knew that if I could please someone enough, that they would ultimately benefit me the way that I wanted to be benefited in their capacity. It is amazing how people pleasing has an outward appearance of humility, but an inward reality of arrogance and selfishness. It was not until I was in my later years in college when a man I regard very highly saw this in me and turned me to a book by Edward Welch "When People are Big and God is Small." This whole book was on the idea of having a "fear of man" that hinders your ability to love and fear God. This book rocked my world with conviction: I was a people pleaser because I feared people because of an ultimate selfishness knowing that I longed for their affection and acceptance. I was so lost when it came "loving God" because my whole paradigm regarding fear was flipped.

The fact is, as human we have the desire to work for something. We have a natural desire to please people because it will ultimately provide for us and move us along the lines of the business world: getting a job, getting a promotion, getting a bonus check. What we NEED to realize is that God allows us to have this desire on purpose, we may just need to flip our paradigm on it.

I'm equating the fact that "loving God" is similar to "pleasing God." This is the paradigm flip. We are to use that desire to please for benefit TOWARD God and not any person or thing of this world. The above two passages elude to the fact that God seems as if He is just waiting and on the edge of his seat to bless those who "love" him! I don't know about you, but I'd long for God's blessing more than a pay raise or job promotion any day.

The question is still this: What does it mean to "love God" so that we can experience this special blessing? Rom 8:28 says that for those who "love God" God works all things for good; but notice the second part of the verse, "for those who are called according to His purpose." Paul uses this phrasing to clarify his point: Loving God IS being called according to His purpose and living accordingly.

To live according to God's purpose is to share the same interest and desire of Him. What is God's desire ultimately? To Glorify Himself. Creation screams it, our minds long for it, the Spirit in us fuels it: Give Glory to God because there is no other than God worth giving Glory! For us to be called according to God's purpose is do preach, to live, to proclaim, to reflect, all of the things/truths/relationships that Give God the Most glory. By doing this, we are on truly in the right direction to "loving" God.

To love God then means to study Him. If I'm in love with my wife, which I am, I then spend the rest of my life to learn everything about her to serve her better, to love her better. I heard it said once that marriage is a doctoral program that never ends. I am striving to get my doctorate in "my wife" because I Love her. This same thing applies for "loving" God. Study his word!!! Live off the life giving bread of the Word of God! We already know that we cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Let's take that serious. You do not need to have a theology degree to read the Bible and get something of it. You simply need two eyes. (not to mention braille and other forms of getting into God's word)

To love God then means to bear fruit. The above two passages both attribute a TON of reference to the Holy Spirit's influence in this aspect of loving God. I believe that one of the reasons for this is because it is only in the Holy Spirit that we can truly "love" anything because God is Love. The fruit is so crucial because "love" is exemplified in the fruit of the spirit. Just contrast Gal 5 (walking by the spirit) and 1 Cor 13 (the Love chapter). The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness etc. Well we know also that Love is patient, love is kind etc. To Love God is to bear His fruit.

Long story short... My human desire to please for benefit is an aspect that God uses to increase His Glory. We ought to seek to "love" God more so that we can fully delight in Him.

Is the term "over-churched" a good or bad thing?

Have you ever considered the idea about a place that is "over-churched" being a mission field? Does it ever scare you to think about the people who "grew up" "Christian" having more head knowledge about theology and the Westminster Catechism than most Christians world wide? Why would it scare you? These people got the point and are doing well! right?
Why did Paul write letters to the CHURCHES of the various places he wrote? And why did he emphasis the gospel to people who already knew it?
The line between religion and relationship is too thin where it doesn't matter how "churched" an area is, the message is and will always be the same: "Do you know Jesus Christ ---> Here's how. then: You know Christ? Now what? Where's the fruit?"
Let me make this statement: The high amount of churches in a particular area doesn't necessarily mean that that area is filled with fruit bearing Christ followers. Don't get me wrong, I don't say this in a negative way to bash affluent and "american dream" towns in our nation. I say this to proclaim the truth that the Gospel is not a religion it is a relationship. And could it be possible for the enemy to use the facade of "an abundance of churches" to prevent missionaries from going into a mission field?
Let me explain by starting into a whole different side of the coin:

You know what I'm fired up about? African Missionaries coming to the STATES to bring the gospel to a lost people!! Praise God! People who actually have tasted the life giving provision of the Lord. People who have experienced full reliability in Jesus Christ because of a poverty status. People who truly emit a bright light of Joy incomparable to anything else and only from a wealth of Holy Spirit influence. It is the message that people like them bring that makes the Gospel a life changing relationship in someone's life and not a legalistic rulebook for living.
Can an area be over-churched? Yes. Is the Gospel needed there? YES. Fruit (spiritual) is the result of a true relationship with Christ and we need more Gospel and less cerebral head knowledge. Because, at the end of the day, if someone knows everything there is to know about Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and even the theology of salvation, but is UNAFFECTED and fruitless in his/her life, it is no different than the man who works for Ford Motor company and designs Ford cars and Promotes Ford cars, but drives a Toyota.
One of the largest and hardest mission fields in America right now is the fruitless over-churched. How can we reach them?

You reach the fruitless over-churched the same way you reach anybody else: bring them to the cross. 1 Cor 15: 3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures..." I am saved because I KNOW this Jesus personally and not because I may have a good to basic knowledge regarding Theology, even though that is useful. I am not saved because I go to church regularly or because I was baptized. I don't do all seven of the sacraments of the Catholic church, yet Christ calls me His own.
And here's the thing: Only because Jesus changes lives people bear genuine fruit (Gal 5) and walk by the Spirit.
Many over-churched people need a reminder or a challenge, or maybe a first time conviction to see if the head knowledge matches up with the life they live. We as Christians and regular church-goers, should EVERYDAY keep in the back of our heads: Am I walking by the Spirit? Or am I walking by the deeds of the flesh? And seek the Holy Spirit constantly and utilize the full potential of His power and not quench Him. Only then does it make church meaningful, only then does it tear down the walls of religion and build up a spirit filled storehouse of Joy and allow HIM to bear fruit in us!

This is something to think about, especially in "christian" America.