Christ Wounds - Part 3

Hebrews 2:9, ‘But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.’

Jesus displayed the very Heart of God. He gave Himself up as a sacrifice and died for us. This is something we need to ponder on. We simply cannot ignore the suffering of Jesus.

On Good Friday, Jesus, The Lamb of God, took to The Cross the weight and shame of our sins. 

On Mount Calvary, Jesus, allows death to come to Him-in a slow, torturous, cruel-unmerciful manner. Jesus willingly suffers.

Jesus’ body bore the wounds of our punishment.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:6.

 

Christ was wounded in the head, the hands, the feet, and the heart. His wounds represent the whole truth of love.

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. Matthew 27:28-30 

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:16. 

He was crowned as king in mockery but HE is indeed the King of kings. 

A crown of thorns was crushed upon His brow until blood dripped down His forehead, His face and into His eyes. 

When they crowned Jesus, with thorns, blood flowed from His head. The wisdom of man cannot compete with the mind of God. The only way God can heal the hurt of sins is to cleanse the mind of sin. 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus Philippians 2:5. 

Our minds must be cleansed by the sacred blood of Jesus. God’s head was wounded. 

Crucifixion was an extreme torture inflicted upon slaves. It was intended to humiliate and prolong the suffering. 

Nails were used in the hands and feet to intensify the pain. Even in this moment of agony, Jesus prayed for His executioners (and us), “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34. 

Jesus laid His hands on the lame and they walked. He touched the eyes of the blind and they saw what they believed. His hands gave hope for the hopeless. Jesus’ healing-saving hands were bleeding-crucified hands on Calvary.  

The feet of Christ went about His Father’s business. He taught and walked the walk of love. Jesus’ feet were nailed to the Cross. They bled from walking the road of sin to redeem us.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 

Jesus has been with The Father since before the creation of the Earth. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering and this separation from God is the deepest wound of all. 

And because Jesus took the punishment for our sins, we no longer have to live separated from The Father.

"It is finished" John 19:30 

The will of God for Jesus was fully accomplished in His perfect obedience to the Father. The power of sin and Satan was finished.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. John 19:33-34 

Blood and water flowed from His wound:

blood for remission, water for regeneration; 

blood for atonement, water for purification.

Hebrews 9:12 He entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:38-40 

Jesus walked out of the tomb whole and complete. He still bears the scars of sacrifice, but His body is now glorified.

1 Peter 2:24-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The death of Jesus takes on personal meaning for us only when we recognize our desperate need of salvation. Calvary signifies that in our desperate need God came to our rescue.

The CROSS is a point of reconciliation between us and God. It delivers us from the bondage of sin and brings us redemption; into a place of eternal salvation through the blood of Jesus.

The crucifixion is, in the words of St. Alphonsus, “a visible sign of God’s passionate love for us”.

We have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Christ. As I write this, I remember Fr. Daniel singing this hymn at a celebration of the mass. Every memory however small is all woven together to bring into fruition what God has ordained for us. We are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!

John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”