HUMILITY ON USED LUMBER

I have an image in my mind, and I can’t shake it. It’s been there for several years. It involves the wood in the cross used to crucify Jesus. I first started thinking of this when I read the account of Solomon building the temple. In 1 Kings 5:6, the Bible tells us that Solomon ordered the cedar and pine timbers from Hiram, king of Tyre, which is up near Lebanon. That got me thinking: How common were large trees around Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s crucifixion? I mean trees big enough to build a cross used to crucify a man? I honestly don’t know for certain, but I imagine they were somewhat rare.

This means that the cross on which Jesus was crucified was most likely used. It had probably been used to crucify someone before it was used to crucify Jesus. It was probably filthy: stained with blood, sweat and other foul things. And to that wretched lumber, the precious hands and feet of our Lord were nailed.

That’s the image. I can’t shake it. I’m grateful I can’t. I’m grateful because that image shames me. And I need to be shamed to appreciate what Jesus – what God Himself – did for me on that cross.

My image of God is too limited. I struggle to grasp the full depth of Jesus’ suffering on my behalf. When I allow my mind to imagine the Glory of God, I picture that Glory nailed to a filthy, stinking cross, I can better – but not near well enough – understand the perfect humility of Jesus, the perfect humility of God.

Jesus, one person in the Trinity, who had enjoyed perfect communion with God the Father since before time began, was willing to bear the pain of separation from His Father as payment for my sin. I can’t picture that. But I can picture Jesus nailed to a filthy cross. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”)Matthew 27:46

Done for me. Done for you. Done out of love; perfect love that only God is capable of.

I don’t understand it. And I don’t deserve it. We don’t deserve it. Never did. Never will.

That, loved ones, is Grace.

I am ashamed. I am grateful. But more, I am His.

Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and my God . The God of Glory, the God of Humility, the God of Sacrifice, the God of Grace, the God of Love. Amen.

— Doug Bagwell

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist