A Thorn In My Finger

A Thorn In My Finger

While trimming one of the rose bushes in the yard I pricked my finger, drawing blood. I really should not have been surprised: trying to prune a thorny bush without gloves was a recipe for exactly what happened. The pain in my finger and the blood flowing from it, demanded attention. I searched for a bandage, I found myself thinking about my Savior. After all,the soldiers forced Jesus to wear a crown of thorns (John 19:1-3). If one thorn hurt this much, I thought, how much agony would an entire crown of them inflict? That's just a small portion of the physical pain He suffered. A whip flogged His back. Nails penetrated His wrists and ankles. A spear pierced His side.

However, Jesus endured spiritual pain too. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities: the punishment that brought us peace was on him (Isaiah 53:5). The peace Isaiah talks about here is another was of talking about forgiveness. Jesus permits Himself to be pierced - by a sword, by nails, by a crown of thorns - to bring us spiritual peace with God. His sacrifice, His willingness to die on our behalf, paved the way to make a relationship with the Father possible. He did it, Scripture tells us, for me, for you.

God, I cannot imagine the pain Your Son endured to wash away my sin. All I say is thank you for sending Him for me, to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with you. Certainly, you realize that Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced for my sins that I might have a relationship with You.