Colossians 2:14 ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’
DAILY READING – – Matthew 17; Numbers 3-4; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16
It is difficult to retrace with accuracy the path the Cross of Jesus has taken over the centuries. According to history, after the death of Jesus, the Jews, who were afraid that His disciples would want to retrieve the relics, hastened to make any object involved in the crucifixion disappear. Therefore for many years afterwards, it seemed there was no account of the whereabouts of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
However, early in the 4th century, the Roman Emperor Constantine I, became the first emperor to be converted to Christianity. His mother Empress Helena also became a Christian, and at that time began to enquire of the whereabouts of the cross. At the age of 80, she travelled to the Holy Land in 326–328AD, in search of the Cross of Jesus. Historical writings of that time claimed she eventually did find the true cross upon which Jesus was crucified. On finding it, she promptly ordered the building of a church where it was discovered – which she called the Church of the Resurrection. According to Christian tradition, this relic of the cross was well preserved until 614 AD and visited by a multitude of Christians.
Later the cross disappeared into the hands of the Persians. But in 630 AD, Heraclius, the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, had a resounding victory over the Persians, and triumphantly returned a part of the Cross to Jerusalem — the other part was left in Constantinople. However, a few years later the Arab conquest began and Jerusalem came under Muslim rule. When difficulties arose and the Christians were persecuted, the Cross was withdrawn from its setting and hidden once again. Ninety years later in 1099. it reappeared once more thanks to the Crusades started by the Church to liberate the Holy Land. It was reinstated with honor in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and became the symbol of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. However, in 1187, the Cross disappeared once again, and this time definitively, on the battlefield of Hattin. The crusaders had taken it with them to bring victory against the Sultan Saladin. However, they lost the battle, and Jerusalem fell into the hands of the sultan. The Cross disappeared without leaving a trace. In 1203, the fragment preserved in Constantinople suffered the effects of the Fourth Crusade and during the French Revolution in 1794, the fragments of the Cross again disappeared. Today, only a few fragments of the cross and the nails remain. They are found around the globe in different fragments. While some are conserved in the treasury of the sacristy of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the largest fragment is preserved in Greece in the monastery of Mount Athos. Other fragments are in Rome, Brussels, Venice, Ghent, and Paris. However, while the bulk of the Catholic and Orthodox churches recognize them as genuine pieces of the cross of Christ, their authenticity is often disputed.
However, what a joy today, that we do not need proof of the authenticity of the cross to appreciate what Jesus did at Calvary. On the cross He paid a total price for our salvation. By His sacrifice He took everything contrary to us out of the way.
Colossians 2:14 says ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’
According to the Roman custom, if a man was being crucified, they would put on that cross whatever that individual had done. At the time of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion the Romans nailed to the cross an inscription that He was ” king of the Jews” —it was the false charge of treason against Rome for which He was executed.
But the scriptures tell us that something else was nailed to the cross. ” The handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” This ‘handwriting of ordinances’ means in legal matters a record of indebtedness or the record of charges which stood against us. These charges were against us for disobeying God’s law. But when Jesus paid the price, God canceled the note of indebtedness by taking it and fixing it to the cross.
And so when Jesus said ‘It is finished!’ It means the debt has been paid in full. We have been set free from every indebtedness. God has forgiven us the debt we owed. The curse that was upon man for disobeying God’s law has now been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. It therefore means that every sickness, poverty, and everything else contrary to our destiny were nailed to the cross, indicating an end to them. And as affliction cannot arise a second time such things can never rise again to torment you, as long as you abide in Christ! Through His death, Jesus blotted out all that has been written against you medically in hospitals. He also blotted out all the writings of soothsayers and occultic forces. He has blotted out all the handwriting against your marital destiny, against your finances, and against your family. Whatever has been against your general wellbeing, has been nailed to the cross.
Jesus hung on the cross and became a curse for us that the blessings of Abraham might come upon us. Therefore you are no longer under a curse, [Galatians 3:13-14.]
If Jesus hung on the tree for you, no sickness, poverty or misfortune can hang on you anymore. The devil cannot hold you captive any longer. You’re free indeed! As long as you serve the Lord you are entitled to liberty. Freedom from oppression is your heritage in God and your birthright in Christ. Who paid the price? Jesus did!
Jesus has delivered us from every yoke of bondage. Every negative speaking against our destiny has been silenced by the speakings of His Blood. Every tongue that shall arise against us in judgment has been condemned by His Blood. Anyone who mentions our name for evil anywhere the blood will arise and answer them. Every evil writings against our destiny are blotted out by the Blood of Jesus. By the blood of Jesus, you have guaranteed peace with God in all areas of life.
Therefore our lives should be proclaiming the values of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He didn’t die in vain. Our transformed lives are the proof that He rose again. Wherever we go, there should be a continuous shout of hallelujah in our habitation, and a ceaseless song of victory in our mouth, because Christ has set us free. And whosever the son of God has set free is truly free indeed!
PRAYER: Lord, I thank you that the full price for my salvation was paid at Calvary thereby setting me free from every form of bondage. I thank You Lord that I now have the victory and dominion over every affliction in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE
When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction