Imagine Calvary

Jesus was wounded—spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

• He was wounded spiritually in the Garden of Gethsemane as the weight of our sins drove Him to cry, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39).
• He was wounded emotionally as His disciples, His closest friends, ran for their lives, abandoning Him to the mercy of those who wanted to kill Him.
• He was wounded physically—beaten and scourged with a cat-o’-nine-tails. His back was ripped open twice; the second time just as the first wounds were healing.
• Finally, He was nailed to a cross, hung up for all to see.

When Jesus was on the cross, Satan thought he had knocked Him out. Satan thought he had scored and won the contest. And it’s true—Jesus was knocked down but not out. Battered, bloodied, and bruised; executed; dead; but not defeated. The “count” lasted three days, but then He got up. Praise God, on the third day, Jesus rose!

In our battles with sin and Satan, if we have Christ with us, we may be beaten, but we are not defeated. Though the battle rages, we can win the war!