(March 27, 2024) Dr Robert McQuillan shares…

I’ve shared about this subject before, but felt led to reshare some aspects because of something that happened this very week.

Do note that while this article is somewhat sombre, it is a reality one of thanksgiving for the major thing that our empathising, suffering Saviour did for us! Hallelujah… He’s alive and returning King, Lord and friend!

Stunned
It was Easter time some years ago when I discovered it. I’d been casually browsing through a local store with Maureen when I suddenly noticed the most unusual object that stood out among other wall hangings.

It was a cross that so grabbed my attention that I sort of froze. I was immediately reminded of Jesus suffering for us on Calvary’s cross, the horror of those nails being driven into our Saviour. He would have been weak already from the mishandling He’d received from His tormentors… now He’s been bound and nailed to that crossbar joined to the upright forming a cross!

I was stunned as I realised how that small 16inch (40.64cm) cross was constructed. On a wooden cross was another cross, a most unusual cross made up of – 

• 30 ugly nails (Reminder of betrayer Judas’ payment – 30 pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15). 
• A centred barbwire crown (Reminder of the thorny ‘crown’ put on Jesus’ head. Mark 15:17).
• Highlighted crossbar (Reminder that Jesus carried His heavy crossbar to outside the city wall – Luke 19:17).
• A centred solid heart (Reminder that Jesus’ heart was set on saving the world – Hebrews 12:2). 

I just had to purchase that eye-catching cross. Turned out it was the only one the store had brought in – and soon it was on my study wall, side of my desk!

Saviour
Reason for remembering that purchase now? I had been searching Google for an icon for a Calvary article I was posting and came across one showing our Saviour Jesus hanging on that Calvary cross… and my eyebrows shot up! Why? It had the ridiculously captioned title of ‘A person holding a cross.’

A person? I had blinked! It was not a somebody, but God’s Son who ‘held’ that cross – Jesus, who could have avoided the horrible things that would be done to Him. Remember how earlier He had told His scared disciples, ‘Don’t you realise that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?’ (Matthew 26:53NLT). But, no, His mind was on our salvation and His Father’s will, and added ‘… if I did, how would the scriptures be fulfilled…?’ (v54).

Holding a cross? I guess He ‘held’ it in a sort of way… the powerful Son of God could have cast it down on those who were mocking Him! But no… our Saviour willingly allowed Himself to be brutally nailed to that crossbar and upright! What He must have gone through… body racking pain caused by being nailed on that ‘old wooden cross’ as He died for our sins, our shortcomings that offend our Holy God!

Don’t know about you, but personally since childhood I’ve been very convinced that –

• Jesus, not ‘a person’, died that cruel Calvary death for all humanity.
• There’s no need for a crucified Christ on necklaces – the cross is empty!
• Sunday following Good Friday, the tomb was found empty because Jesus had risen!
• He’s alive and will always be with us as our Saviour, Lord and friend!
• On confessing our sins and believing in Jesus, we’re forgiven: eternal life is ours!

As Sunday school kids we would happily sing about other redeemed kids around the world, ‘All are precious in His sight.’ Now every time that I go into my study my unusual ‘visual reminder’ speaks to me afresh that Jesus has made salvation for everyone, whatever age, whatever nationality! We are all so precious in His sight.

Shudder
It’s almost Good Friday… annual reminder of those terrible, gruesome nails the Romans used to crucify our Saviour to that old wooden cross. A question, dear readers: Ever seen – or held – one of those awful Roman nails?

Decades ago a friend got me permission to borrow some from Melbourne’s Bible Museum… I can tell you that they looked terrifying, revolting! Those old ugly, heavy, now rusty squarish iron nails were about 7-9 inches (17.78-22.86cm)!

Just holding them, noting their length, feeling their weight and remembering that such pierced our dear Saviour made me shudder.

We see to it that kids enjoy the Easter break with goodies such as chocolate eggs – and rightly so! But the real Easter story isn’t about eggs, bunny rabbits and childhood fun – it’s about the crucifixion of God’s Son! A nasty horrifying incident that changed history! 

Regarded as being Persian-contrived around 300 or 400 years BC, crucifixion has always been recognised among the most painful and excruciating forms of punishment ever created and leading to death. Jesus, who didn’t deserve to treated as a criminal paid the most incredible and horrific price to gain our salvation and secure eternity for us! 

Sadism
Evidently those ugly, heavy iron nails if driven into the palms would have ripped out between the accused’s fingers under the weight of hanging from the cross! 

So, the arms were firstly tied tightly to the crossbar (patibulum) now fixed to the upright (stauros) and the assigned legionnaire would feel for a specific spot as the nail had to be driven in between forearm bones up close to the wrist, thus avoiding severing any major veins or arteries. That space between small bones structurally permitted the crucified one’s weight to be supported for a time, causing great discomfort and pain leading to death. 

Whether wrists or palms, the intent was to produce punishment of agonising, ongoing pain! And our Saviour bore this all for us!

Crucifixion was horrible! The sadistic Romans ensured that victims hung painfully – the diaphragm ultimately went into spasm and the crucified one literally suffocated to death. More could be described here, but I won’t… it was an ugly, humiliating death for God’s Son, the incarnated Jesus! 

Salvation
However we can rejoice because of salvationbecame ours! Praise God that Jesus rose again from the grave! He’s alive… and the hope of the world! What a blessing is the Christian’s. 

In reality, Easter is a vivid reminder of extravagant, gracious love demonstrated. Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross was – is – proof of God’s love. Paul declared this in a very pointed way:  ‘God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him’ (Romans 5:8Mge).

Through Jesus’ redemptive Calvary conquering God can now use us! Christians are meant to be active in God’s kingdom – and can be, not sitting on some spiritual train to heaven and home, but His witnesses in this dark and needy world!

Paul writes: ‘God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity He put us in right standing with Himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by means of Jesus Christ’ (Romans 3:24Mge). 

Empathy is obvious here! Not only did Jesus emphasise with us, He died in our place so that blessing and salvation would be poured out on us instead of judgment. Bearing our sins, He paid the ransom, suffering for everyone (Isaiah 52:14-53:5,12; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:26-27; Romans 4:25GNT; 1Corinthians 15:3-5). 

Servantship
Some Christians wrongly believe that they are of no use to God. Maybe you were… but not anymore! Now ransomed, we are all followers of our Saviour… with the blessed Holy Spirit’s anointing, power and help (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8) we can be useful in extending the kingdom of God! No wonder Jesus could confidently tell His followers to ‘Go…’ – (that great commission of Matthew 28:18-20). 

Yes, that graphic, nail-illustrated cross I bought will always be a centrepoint in my study, reminding me of many aspects that Jesus achieved for humanity so long ago. We were redeemed from sin and Satan’s sneaky grip by the most expensive price ever paid! Now we must move beyond the cross, not stand there merely looking at it! 

All who accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord are changed!  Not just for eternity but for now! Reconciled to God (2Corinthians 5:18-19), we will not only spend eternity with our Father in heaven, but here and now we are of use to our Saviour in whatever ways He chooses!

• My purchased cross for my study was inexpensive compared to Jesus’ purchase for us! Let’s move forward then, beyond images of a nailed-pierced Christ because we are now reconciled and free. 

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Dr Robert McQuillan’s links: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook / Reality of the Resurrection /The Joy of Christ’s Resurrection / It was His Life for Your Life / Still Gathering at the Cross or Moving On
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