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The God-Designed Cross
But He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. - Isaiah 53:5, CSB
As the first day of Lent, you may be spiritually preparing for the celebration of Easter with self-reflection and prayer. In your time of meditation, allow yourself to draw closer to Jesus Christ by looking at the often overlooked characteristics of the cross that God inspired to fulfill His perfect plan.
Not The Romans’ Idea
We may have assumed that crucifixion was invented by the Romans, though that isn’t entirely true. Most likely originating with the Assyrians and Babylonians, it was used by the Persians in the 6th century BC. Alexander the Great brought crucifixion from there to the eastern Mediterranean countries in the 4th century BC, and the Phoenicians introduced it to Rome in the 3rd century BC. The Romans “perfected” crucifixion for 500 years until it was abolished by Constantine I in the 4th century AD.
The Romans, pridefully feeling big in their own eyes for “perfecting” crucifixion, were unaware that Almighty God would use them in His plan for humanity’s salvation- from choosing the specific type of cross (Crux Immissa), to physically nailing the Sacrificial Lamb to it. Each detail, though seemingly controlled by the hands of the wicked, was controlled by God to eternally save us, for “He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth” (Daniel 4:35, NIV).
The Lord can use anyone, even the wicked, to have His plans fulfilled. Upon the birth of Jesus, we see God using Augustus Caesar’s oppressive and harsh decree for a census to be taken, which assured the future Savior would be born in Bethlehem, fulfilling biblical prophecy. Wickedness ends the life of Jesus on earth, with the Romans nailing Him to the cross, though death could not hold Him. Our sin is the reason Jesus came into this world, and it’s the reason He died, so that we could have life everlasting with Him.
Several Types of Crosses
There were four types of crosses used in Roman executions (Crux Simplex, Crux Commissa, Crux Immissa, and Crux Decusatta). Jesus is generally believed to have died on a two-piece, wooden Crux Immissa (or "low tau" cross), characterized by a vertical stake (stipes) and a horizontal crossbeam (patibulum) forming the lowercase "t" shape. The Crux Immissa was the only type of cross that allowed for a title (titulus) to be placed above Jesus' head, as described in the Gospels (Matthew 27:37 ESV, John 19:19-22, Luke 23:38).
The Titulus
The titulus nailed above the head of Jesus proclaimed, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” according to the Gospel of John. Pilate, though conflicted over Jesus’ innocence, seems to have given Jesus that honor, especially after his wife’s message to him: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him” (Matthew 27:19, NIV). And yet, it also seems he used this worthy title to irritate the Jewish leaders (John 19:21-22, ESV). Though done in mockery and meant to shame, “God overruled it, that even [Jesus’] accusation was to His honor” (Matthew Henry).
God was intentional with the creation of the inscription, written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew for all to understand (Luke 22:38, KJV), for there’s power in the name of Jesus, and His name is positioned above all:
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11, ESV).
The Patibulum
† Only the horizontal crossbeam (patibulum) would have been carried by Jesus to Golgotha, not the whole cross.
† The vertical stake (stipes) would have already been at Golgotha, where it was used for multiple crucifixions.
† Scholars estimate the patibulum to weigh between 75 and 125 lbs.
† The patibulum was picked up in the courtyard of the Antonia Fortress, which was the Roman Praetorium (judgment hall) where Jesus was sentenced by Pontius Pilate.
† The patibulum was carried by Jesus for approximately 600 to 650 meters, or a little over a quarter of a mile to Golgotha.
Not As High As Depicted
We often imagine Jesus as hanging high above those who were viewing Him. It’s reported that the cross was 10 to 12 feet in total height. The visible cross would have been seven to eight feet above ground, high enough to lift the crucified just above eye level. Therefore, Jesus would have only been about three to four feet above the ground. Being only a few feet higher would have made the humiliation much greater in my opinion, as opposed to being so much higher and further from His mockers and those who loved Him. He was high enough for visibility but low enough to be accessible.
This was not just a physical elevation of Jesus, but a spiritual height as well, as the sinless Son of God. At the foot of the cross, we are positioned below the King of Kings. The cross was His throne, and wide enough to hold all of fallen humanity.
Just as He was to be visible on the cross, all can see Jesus if we will look towards Him. Our Savior isn’t out of reach to us. As the Israelites were healed of their infirmities when they looked up at the bronze serpent placed high on the pole by Moses, which was a foreshadowing of Christ, Jesus will heal us of our infirmities, if we will only look up and keep our eyes upon Him.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
Oh, But The Cross!
The God-inspired design of this cross, though a horrible tool of death, is perfect- not for man’s wicked purposes, but what it symbolizes in love to anyone who sees it. To me, the cross looks like a standing man, with a head, legs, and outstretched arms.
That man is Jesus Christ. The cross represents a bridging between man and God, with the vertical pole planted deeply into the earth, and the top reaching into heaven. However, it’s not the cross itself, but the one and only acceptable Savior who could be upon it. It’s Jesus who is the bridge, with arms outstretched, who reinstates a right relationship between us and God.
The design of the cross is the perfect tool for sharing the Gospel with anyone, easily illustrating who Jesus is, and the significance of the sacrificial work He did for us in His love.
“Christ dethroned Satan through the cross (Colossians 1:13-14), and restored God’s royal design for creation and regained the “crown of glory and honor” for humanity through His death on the cross.” - Jeremy Treat
And In Your Pain…
The cross of Jesus Christ is not the only reminder of God’s sacrifice in order to save us from eternal death. It’s also His great love for us. And when we go through something difficult, and we cry out, “Why, God? Why does this need to be so painful?”, we can simply look at the cross. If there had been another way to give us salvation, and God didn’t need to put His only Son to death, wouldn’t He have chosen that option? To remain just and to also extend His love to us through grace and mercy, death was the only option.
If He sent His only Son to suffer and die for us, you can be assured that in your pain, He has a good and perfect plan for you too. You may not understand it today or tomorrow, but you can trust God completely.
And we can pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you that I can lean in and learn more about your great sacrifice for me. I am not worthy, but in your love, you would have rather put yourself in my place on the cross and died than to have me separated from you for eternity. I love you, and just as you gave everthing to me, may I give my all to you each day. I pray all of these things in your powerful and almighty name. Amen.
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Health
Water: Are You Getting Enough?
Many people stay in a state of mild dehydration, drinking only when they’re thirsty. Because of our environment of pollution, electronics, food, chemicals, work schedules and lifestyle demands, our bodies are more stressed than ever, and we need water. Meanwhile, about a gallon of water leaves our bodies throughout the day through our skin and urination, so we need to replenish it.
Did you know when we are dehydrated, water leaves our cells, and goes to help other functions, mainly putting more work on the kidneys to rid toxins from the body? The kidneys should not be overworked unnecessarily, if we would just stay hydrated.
When the body doesn’t get enough water, it’s like operating our car without oil. Or, perhaps you have seen a plant that hasn’t been watered in awhile. The branches droop. The leaves start to curl, turning brown. That’s not too different than how we are without enough water- we “droop” from the inside out. As a visible sign, consider the skin on your face. The skin of the face needs to stay plumped with a steady and adequate amount of water.
What Happens When We Don’t Drink Enough Water
Low energy and motivation
Organs shrink
Constipation and other digestion issues
Reduced blood flow, causing headaches
Mixed hunger cues, causing overeating
Mood instability and depression
Stresses kidneys, potentially causing damage
Toxin buildup
Death after a few days, without any water
Mood
Depression is linked to dehydration because 85% of brain tissue is water. Dehydration causes energy production in the brain to decrease. However, like in many other medical areas, contaminated water can also cause health problems. It is known that lead in water can cause damage to nervous systems, with depression being one of the most common results of lead-filled water.
Overeating
Drinking water boosts the number of calories you burn during the day—your body has to work in order to process it. In a study by The Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism, drinking just 16 ounces of water spiked participants’ metabolisms by 30 percent. The researchers found that increasing water intake by around six eight-ounce glasses of water per day could increase calories burned by around 200.
What Should We Do?
First, Determine The Minimum
To determine how much water to drink daily, you should be drinking a half ounce to ounce of water for each pound of body weight (i.e.- 142lbs would require 71 ounces at a minimum, though drinking the amount of water in ounces closer to your body weight is ideal). Physical activity, heat, where you live in regards to climate, and other factors may require more water.
Industry experts recommend 2 cups (16 oz.) of water as a very first when waking. In addition, adding lemon juice to warm water can help stimulate the digestion system.
Second, As You Need Water…
Check your urine throughout the day. It should be a light color. If it’s darker, your body is needing more water. If you’re craving salty foods, this may be a sign that you’re dehydrated.
Get Quality Water
Get a multi-stage water filter that filters out chlorine, fluoride, lead, and other metals and contaminants, but keeps the beneficial minerals. Tap water and well water and bottled water are suspect for contamination. There are several options, from under sink units to counter top pitchers. Most recommend a filter change every six months.
Get a shower filter that filters out chlorine and other contaminants. When you shower or bathe, your skin absorbs water, not too different than if you were to drink tap water. Your skin absorbs more water than what you would drink. Your skin will be softer, and you can see a difference in your hair.
Buying bottled water is expensive, and most of it isn’t any healthier than tap water. If you’re traveling and need to buy bottled water, it would be the better choice than going to a tap or where you aren’t familiar with the water source.
Invest in a good quality filtered water bottle that filters out contaminants like lead, arsenic, chlorine, PFOS, PFAS, and microplastics. You can find them at this link and get 20% off when you use coupon code: myholynutrition
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