2 Samuel 17:1-16; John 19:31-42; Psalms 119:121-128; Proverbs 26:18-19
NT: “Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.” (John 19:31-37 CSB)
As the Passover lambs had their necks slit and their blood poured out for the Passover offering, Jesus the Lamb of God, after enduring a scourging that left His body an unrecognizable bloody mess was nailed to a cross and hoisted up for all to see. There on the cross, He bled out and breathed His last. To make sure He was dead, the Roman soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and His remaining blood and pericardial fluid spilled to the ground. Through every last drop of His blood, Jesus, the Lamb of God, purchased our redemption from sin and delivered us from the oppression of hell.
Psalms: “I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise. Deal with your servant based on your faithful love; teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your decrees. It is time for the Lord to act, for they have violated your instruction. Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold, I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.” (Psalms 119:121-128 CSB)
During this election cycle, there has been a lot of fear mongering from both sides of the political spectrum… fears that if one party wins, the other party will be oppressed and stripped of their rights. No wonder there has been so much uneasiness and anxiety over the results of the election. I too, could have easily fallen prey to the fear, were it not for the guarantee I have in Christ through His word. The word that is translated in the CSB as ‘guarantee’ is translated in other versions of the Bible as ‘surety.’ Surety is a legal liability for the debt, default, or failure of another. That is exactly what Christ became for us through His death and resurrection… where we fail in overcoming the oppression of sin and the accusations of the powers of darkness, Jesus has taken on Himself the legal liability. We appropriate that surety through faith in Him and obedience to His enduring word. Over the millennia of human history, the powers of darkness through earthly political systems have tried time and time again to oppress and snuff out the guarantee of God’s word. Empires have risen and fallen… and standing through them all has been God’s faithfulness to His word. No matter what happens in this election cycle or in election cycles to come, as long as I remain faithful to the Lord and to His word, I have a guarantee of well-being from the One Who died for me, and rose again in victory.
Jamie Hicks 