The Beauty of the Ugly Violent Stuff

Tonight, I watch flashes of pyrotechnic light playing on the wonder filled face of my youngest son. As I look around, I see a darkened landscape belching out fountains of fire as far as I can see. I hear reports from cannons and rockets (near and far) as they launch and then deliver their celebratory payload to dazzled onlookers.

I also know that for some (particularly soldiers who have PTSD), these sound and sights of celebration can far too closely resemble the sights and sounds of war. I'm quite certain that the defenders of Ft. McHenry over two centuries ago were not exclaiming "ohh's" and "ahh's" as British rockets and bombs rained down on them that night. As they witnessed "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" from the receiving end, their cry was far more likely to be a prayer of the "God save us!" variety. Yet the American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, standing on the deck of a British ship some four miles away saw hope rising for his fledgling country through the horrors of that bombardment. Curious isn't it, that something so horrible as weapons of warfare can be transformed into symbols of celebration and hope?

I see this same odd notion in the words of the Apostle Paul, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..."* The cross also was a horrible thing. It was the Roman executioners tool for the basest of criminals. It was not something one would naturally assume to be a source of "glory". Yet, there it is.

So if you wonder why the followers of Jesus talk so much about things like the "cross" and the "blood", here is your answer. We talk about those things because the most awful event of human history was also the event that made our salvation possible. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died as a substitute to pay for the sins of anyone who will believe on him. If you are willing to turn from your sin and accept him as Savior, today can be your "independence day" on a whole new scale.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

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*Galatians 6:14a

The Cross Was No Accident

Jesus’ life was not taken.

Jesus’ blood was not spilled.

No, Jesus gave his life. He poured out his blood as an offering for sin, and he did it all on purpose. The cross was no accident.

Could Jesus have escaped? Certainly. Thousands of angels stood at attention that day. A single word from the Son of Man would have brought them to his side wielding judgment on the sons of men.

Jesus has power over life and death. He could have looked Caiaphas the corrupt High Priest in the eye and said, “drop dead” and Caiaphas would have dropped dead. The same can be said for Herod, Pilate, the Roman soldiers, the Temple guards and everyone else who mistreated him.

He could have called down fire from heaven. He could have ordered the earth to tear itself open and swallow his persecutors. He could have called up floods from the deep to sweep his tormentors into the sea. But he didn’t. In fact, just as had been prophesied hundreds of years before:

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” - Isaiah 53:7 KJV

Jesus could have avoided the cross, but he chose not to. Jesus died on purpose. You see, Jesus death on the cross was not a stop-gap measure enacted by the desperation of God. Adam and Eve’s original sin, their disobedience in the Garden, did not catch God by surprise. Look at this:

“...ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” - 1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV

Did you see that? “Foreordained before the foundation of the world” to have his blood shed for the redemption of the human race. God created this world, he created the human race, knowing that we would need a Redeemer. He already had the plan in place.

God knew each of us even before we were formed. Psalm 139:15 brings this down to an even more personal level.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. - Psalm 139:16 KJV.

You see, Jesus knows you and me. In fact, he knows everything about everybody. And he loved us anyway, enough to go to the cross. He came to this world on a mission. That mission was to provide you and me a means of escape from eternal judgment and restore us to fellowship with God.

Now, here is something you can do on purpose.

If you don’t know him as your Savior, I urge you to ask him to forgive you of your sin and commit your life to him. Eternity matters.

DIAGRAM: Israelite camp in the wilderness under Moses in relation to the Tabernacle.

While teaching on the Tabernacle of Israel during the wilderness wanderings I needed a chart depicting the probable layout of the Israelite camp. I couldn't find one I liked so I made my own. I am happy to share it with you. I used simple math to figure the ratios of the area needed to accomodate those listed for each tribe in the Biblical census. By grouping those tribes on each side of the tabernacle you can figure the total area needed on each side. When you divide that area by the length of the respective side of the tabernacle you can figure the distance from the tabernacle that the encampment on that side would have gone. The formula for the area (square feet per man) really doesn't matter as long as you are consistent throughout. The ratios will remain the same which is what you really need to illustrate the shape anyway.

Copy and use this as you need it as a teaching aid, as long as you aren't selling the image. Please credit the image as IMAGE: Tony Thomas, 2013.