THE ROMAN WAY! 4/10/11

THE CRUCIFIXION was a brutal and cruel way to die. Those who saw men die this way never forgot the experience. It would haunt them for the rest of their lives. It haunts us just reading about it in the scriptures!

BEFORE a condemned man was to be crucified, he would be prepared with a ‘flagellum’. A Roman cat-o’-nine-tails, if you will. These leather straps were inter-twined with bits of bone and lead, which would tear out pieces of flesh when it was applied. Some executioners were so good at this, they could tear off an ear or the flesh from between the ribs; or even put out an eye.

AFTER the whipping, the victim would be forced to carry their own crossbeam to the place where the crucifixion would be carried out. They would force the prisoner to walk the longest route, through winding, crowded streets. While the executioners were wanting to show their Roman power in crucifying Jesus, our God was showing His power; the power of His love.

WHEN THEY reached the place of execution, the condemned was nailed by his hands to the crossbeam and then hauled onto the upright which had been left there from the previous execution; while all the time screaming in agony. His feet were nailed to the upright, and he was left to die! Death would be a blessed relief!

WE ARE ENTERING a most reverent and discerning time of the Christian belief; that Jesus the Son of God, gave Himself up and while he was not guilty of any crime, was crucified for our guilt instead. The Romans, although an instrument of God, at the time, never fully understood the role they played in crucifying the man Jesus. They thought they were obeying their laws of procedure but instead they were pawns in God’s hands. They didn’t even know that there was no other way; that no one could have stopped them from doing their job!

“THEREFORE God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 God’s plan was executed without a hitch!

IN THE PLAN of God, it was never intended that Christ would set up an earthly kingdom. If He had, there would have been no Lamb that was slain, nor could He have taken away the sins of the world. He came the first time to die on Calvary. But when He comes the second time it will be visible to all at one time. He will come as King of kings. He will come as Lord of the whole universe. What a day that will be!

WHEN I think of what God had planned from the beginning and what the man Jesus did for us, we the people, could only feel helpless. His death was foretold in the scriptures down to the most minute detail and the people were still helpless. “And Paul went in, as was his custom and for three weeks, he argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead; and saying “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ!” Acts 17:2-3

“THIS JESUS, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God; you crucified and killed, by the hands of lawless men,” Acts 2:23 Jesus went to the cross because it was ordained by God! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

OH HOW WONDERFUL it is to be called a Christian; “Christ one!” Oh how wonderful to be counted among the saints that have gone before me! “In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody of love!” Do you hear it; can you feel it? Place your hand in the hand of the man Jesus, that can give you life everlasting; we call Him Lord!! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 4/6/11