Tougher Than Nails – Holy Saturday

Yesterday, as always on Good Friday with my husband, I watched “The Passion of the Christ” movie again. Not for entertainment, but for reminding me of the unspeakable price Christ paid for me. I think Mel Gibson got it right because Isaiah 52:14 says “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness”. Our Lord was nailed to the cross and bore every sin we’ve ever committed. He carried every sickness we have ever had, and will have. He gave His life so that we would live forever and ever with Him. That was His promise, but this day after — the day-in-the-middle — the day between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection, His disciples and followers could only think: “It’s all over for us! Life will never be the same again.”

This “in-the-middle” day between the crucifixion and the resurrection must have been a dark day for them all. They had forgotten Jesus said: “I’ll be back!” But, praise God, WE KNOW what happens tomorrow – so it’s not a gloomy day at all! We know that Jesus was tougher than the nails that hung Him from the cross. We know JOY COMES in the MORNING!

I googled “tougher than nails” to find a graphic for this blog and a country song by Joe Diffie popped up. I listened to it. It’s about the “toughest man he knows”. Here are the lyrics, and if you’d like a little “country” on this Saturday morning – take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOE3dnMq9CI

Little boy walks in with a bloody nose,
Got beat up on his way home from school, again,
His dad caught him running out the back,
Tears in his eyes and a baseball bat, oh — revenge,
Said: “Son I won’t stop ya, but before you go,
Let me tell you a little story about the toughest man I know,
You hit him and he just turns the other cheek,
Don’t think for a minute he was weak,
‘Cause in the end he showed them,
He was any-thing but frail,
They hammered him to a cross,
But he was tougher than nails.

Well he dropped that bat like it weighed a ton,
Father put his arms around his son and said, just let it go!
Believe me I’ve been in your shoes,
Had to ask myself what would Jesus do, here’s what I know,
Whenever I’m in doubt, I look up what he said,
It’s all there in the good book, in black and white and red,
Hit him and he just turns the other cheek,
Don’t think for a minute he was weak,
‘Cause in the end he showed them,
He was any-thing but frail,
They hammered him to a cross,
But he was tougher than nails,
Yeah in the end he showed them,
He was any-thing but frail,
They hammered him to a cross,
But he was tougher than nails,
Tougher than nails, oh, oh, oh,

What does it mean to be “tough?” Though I’m amplifying the real toughness of our Savior – I’d like to amplify the toughness of my fellow “shelter-in-place” friends. The expression “tougher than nails” is generally used to describe someone who is physically strong, but I know physical strength can’t be compared to the tenacity, fortitude, determination and resilience of people during these times. I’m thinking our big Brother, Jesus, must be mighty proud of His brothers and sisters – demonstrating their toughness. You resemble Him.

Jesus set the example for us. Even before the cross – Jesus was tougher than nails. He was constantly mocked, criticized, and ostracized. He was always challenged spiritually, emotionally and physically. But, like Joe Diffie’s song said “He was tougher than nails.” Our first reactions are to retaliate, to have to have the last word, to speak our mind, to prove ourselves right. Not Jesus – He was tougher than nails in His everyday reactions to hatred and loved right through them all. That is what is called “Tougher than Nails”!

Being a devoted follower of Christ is something that can definitely be described as “tough.” We may not all have the physical stamina to be on the front lines, but we do have the ability to forgive when someone has wronged us and to love in spite of what is said or done to us. When we follow our Lord’s lead, we, too, can safely call ourselves “tough” in a way that honors the price He paid for us. When we look to our Savior we are strengthened because we remember that we serve the One who was “tougher than nails.” Please, make me more like You, Jesus! Tougher than nails.