John’s Gospel describes a scene that is both haunting and hopeful

3 min read

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. - John 18:12

One of the meanings of the word overkill is: 

“an excess of something (such as a quantity or an action) beyond what is required or suitable for a particular purpose.”

Perhaps one of the most infamous examples of overkill in the history of mankind is when the Roman soldiers put Jesus in restraints after arresting him. Not once, but twice on his way to the cross was Jesus subjected to being bound, or tied up with ropes and/or chains.

Imagine the scene. Humble Jesus…the healer of the lame and the sick, the advocate of children and outcasts, the gentle Teacher, feeder of hungry people, the holy Lamb of God…shuffling along with shackles on his wrists and ankles, bound up as if he were a dangerous criminal.

Bizzare isn’t it? Jesus in handcuffs is a picture that just doesn’t make sense. It is outrageus, revolting, and contradictory to all that we know of him.

Yet this was part of the humiliation that the Lord endured on our behalf. Though the restraints were completely unnecessary, Jesus accepted them. Though he was no flight risk or danger to society, he let himself be bound.

For freedom Christ has set us free… Galatians 5:1

Look closely and you’ll see a strange beauty in this image. It is beautiful because the Gospel story is one of substitution, of him for us. Because Jesus experienced what he did, we can have the opposite experience.

He experienced injustice so that we could experience mercy, forgiveness, and grace. He experienced death so that we could experience life in the fullest sense. He shuffled his way to the cross in chains so that we could run in freedom. He endured extreme cruelty so that we may flourish in the overflowing surplus of his love.

Imagining Jesus bound up in restraints is challenging at every level. It is an image that is both haunting and hopeful.

What restrains you? What’s holding you back or restricting your movement in the faith? Your past? Fear of failure or rejection? Destructive coping mechanisms? A looping pattern of sin, confess, repeat?

Whatever it may be, may the strength of those things be broken by the surpassing power of the Holy Spirit and by the reality of the Gospel that is for you. And may you go forward in the freedom that is yours in Christ.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.