I get goose bumps each time I think of Christ’s victory over death and the grave. My heart is filled with excitement over the blessed hope I have in Christ because of the empty tomb and the ascension of Jesus to His Father. In the wash of mundane activities and the flurry of scheduled events, the vivid image of Easter sometimes fades away. Yet, thanks be to God, His Word reminds me to rejoice daily because every day is an act of His grace, an Easter celebration.
Still, we must remember that before Easter Sunday came Good Friday, the day that commemorates the passion of the precious Savior and Redeemer. On that day, Jesus was the recipient of countless injuries. One instrument of torture used that day was the hammer that drove long, rusty nails into the hands and feet of Christ. Imagining such a wrenching scene always sends tears rolling down my cheeks.
Today, however, I feel differently about that memory. My mind's eye is opened to see that, in the eyes of the Father, the hammering done by the Roman soldiers was an energetic and powerful thrust yet a beautiful, melodious sound that brought about the redemption of all repentant sinners.
The thought of that woeful yet life-giving hammer brought to mind the musical term martellato, an Italian word that means "hammered." It is most often used in string playing indicating heavy, detached strokes with the bow. In piano playing, it is suggestive of a forceful, detached touch. When martellato is used with control and finesse, the sound comes to life and beautiful music emerges.
This season of my life has provided ample fodder for my understanding of the excruciating pain our Maestro underwent on the cross. So much more than just the hammer struck Jesus:
- the bitterness of His cup of suffering
- the slumber that kept His disciples from praying with Him in the garden
- the treason of Judas
- the fleeing of His disciples
- the mockery of His trials
- the denial of Peter
- the false charges against Him
- the 39 lashes at His flogging
- the numerous insults hurled at Him
- the slapping of His face
- the piercing of His side
- the persistence of sin in the world
. . . Indeed, Jesus was hammered on the cross by so much more.
More striking still was the abandonment Jesus felt when He cried out to His Father, "Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachthani?" –- “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, NIV)
Well, why indeed?
Why would the most loving Father choose not to intervene in the wished-for manner?
Why would He not call upon ten thousand angels to snatch the body of His precious Son from that cursed tree?Why would He refrain from making the angry, arrogant mob eat its filthy words of scorn, mockery, and shame?
One look at Jesus on the cross confirmed to the Father that His justice required holy wrath. Love-stricken, Jesus wore the cloak of our misdeeds, warts, blemishes, and crimes. He took upon Himself the iniquities of all mankind and the Father knew at that moment that His righteousness had to give the Son His biggest blow, His strongest martellato –- the separation of Jesus from the blessed fellowship of the God-head. The ultimate musician, God, played His instrument masterfully to the stupefaction of the accuser.
Satan is vanquished!
What a profound mystery!
This martellato equally affects us who follow Christ. We are often the recipients of emotional, physical, and spiritual blows while on earth. We must remember that when life's pressures, attacks, and trials come our way, it is the Father's skillful hands playing martellato on the strings of our hearts to bring out joyful music for His glory and for the strengthening of our faith. This thought is echoed in the book of James,
"Consider it pure joy,
my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4, NIV
Let us be grateful that Christ received the fullness of God's wrath, His heaviest martellato, in our stead. Let us rejoice that we are blessed to partake in His sufferings so we can lack nothing. Let us praise His name because Jesus is our High Priest, interceding on our behalf.
O Jesus, thank you for being my High Priest. I need not worry because in you there is a solution for every problem, an answer for each question, sympathy for each pain, and strength for each weakness of mine. Help me to be patient and growing in your love as I walk daily. Remind me that you are interceding on my behalf even right now. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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