When the footballer skids across the grass to shoot that ball through the net, he is not caring about his bloody knee. He knew his skin would rip as it came into contact with the hard surface. But he is doing this for his team and for his loyal supporters who want to see his team win.
The same applies to the boxer. His aim is to beat his opponent. If he receives a swollen eye, broken nose and busted lip in the process, he doesn’t care. He wants to triumph over his enemy.
Jesus had to accept physical violence in order to defeat not just his enemy, but ours. Jesus allowed his body to be ripped to shreds for our protection. He fought the fight for us and won. Better than the boxer, better than the football player.
No more matches are needed to be played. Jesus defeated our enemy forever.
Look, this ‘enemy talk’ doesn’t faze me because I’m a big boy now and I don’t really believe in all this devil stuff.
Well, this enemy is more real to you than the person nearest to you in the room right now. And if you are on your own, you cannot see him, but he certainly has his eye on you.
He wants you to think this is all a load of rubbish. He wants you to hold onto the things you are scared to lose. Well yes, you might lose your reputation for a while if you become a Christian and go and tell your friends.
But when you are on your death-bed, those very friends whose opinions you were so terrified of, will not have the power to pluck you from Satan’s clasp.
They will not be able to demand that God give you your breath back. They will not be able to take away the pain of your last struggling breath. And then you will be gone from this earth with no more chance to put things right with your Maker.
It is then you will realise that what you have lost is far, far worse than that reputation you were so protective of.
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
(Isaiah 53:5)
