Do you ever wonder why Jesus allowed himself to be taken away like a criminal? Why he allowed the soldiers to nail him to a cross to die? With one word he could have avoided it all. He could have thrown off the limited and bounded human form and taken back his limitless and boundless spirit in an instant. However, he chose the nails. Why? Jesus knew the price of your sins was your death. However, he could not bear the thought of eternity without you. The only way for your salvation was for him to suffer the punishment that we deserved. You see, he chose the nails.Such is the theme of the book He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado. This simple-themed book was such a delight to read from start to finish. In many places I was left laughing or crying or re-reading because I wanted the words and the truths to linger in my mind for a moment longer. I use the descriptor "simple-themed" not as an insult, such as one might hurl as a label at someone of deficient intelligence, judgement, or good sense. The term is chosen more because of the digestibility and approachability of the writing style. Nothing bulky, unnecessarily ornate, bland and banal, or made to be academically haughty. There can be remarkable beauty and depth in something approachable and straightforward. This book was a wonderful reminder of what Jesus Christ did for us and why we are so important to him. Better yet, it was a wonderful reminder of what Jesus did for me and why I am so important to him.
Long ago, even before he made the world,
God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy
and without fault in his eyes.
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into
his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
And this gave him great pleasure., Ephesians 1:4-5
