Do We Bind The Hands Of Jesus?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
In Mark 15:1, the biblical record tells of the enemies of Christ binding Him in preparation for His trial before Pilate. Upon reading this text, our hearts are filled with sadness knowing our Lord was about to be crucified.
Furthermore, it fills us with various degrees of righteous indignation, for surely we would have stood by Him and not allowed this to happen as it did. However, there are very few people today who are not guilty of binding the hands of Jesus.
In this short article, let us examine several ways in which His hands can be bound.
Refusing To Obey The Gospel
Many bind Jesus’ hands by refusing to obey the Gospel. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth to die for our sins (John 3:16-17). God sent Him because He needed a perfect sacrifice to save mankind.
God does not wish for any of us to spend an eternity in hell and thus sending Christ was the only way He could offer man the pardon he needed. Through Christ’s death a tender invitation is offered to those who would be pardoned for sin (Matthew 11:28-30).
When one refuses to obey the gospel, the hands of Jesus are bound and He cannot offer the salvation that God wishes for the one who refuses Him to have. For the person who refuses to obey the gospel has caused the Lord to have died in vain. In not obeying Him, you will one day face the righteous indignation of the Lord Himself (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Christians Bind The Hands Of Jesus
Those who obey the gospel can also bind the hands of Jesus by refusing to be transformed from this world. Being transformed involves the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:20-24).
Renewal of the mind occurs when one reads, studies and meditates on God’s word (Psalms 1:2; Romans 12:2; Colossians 1:9-11; Colossians 3:10; 2 Timothy 2:15). Many Christians reject the avenue of renewal and do not follow God’s word in this matter (James 1:21). They allow other things to take precedence in their lives, and bind the hands of Jesus so that they cannot do the work they were meant to do.
If we neglect to study on our own or fail to take advantage of time to study with others, then we neglect the transforming power of God’s word. In so doing, we are just as guilty as those who delivered Him to Pilate of binding the hands of Jesus.
Not Praying As We Should
Christians also bind the hands of Jesus by not praying. Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). As our High Priest, He is there to make intercession with God for us (Hebrews 7:25). He came to earth as a man for this purpose (Hebrews 2:17-18).
His priesthood makes it possible for us to approach God in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). As High Priest, He is able to save those who come to God through Him, for He is there to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
When we refuse to pray as we should, He cannot be our High Priest. Figuratively speaking, we have bound His hands once again, for he cannot do His work. It is indeed a tragedy if we are doing this, for here is Jesus who lives to intercede for us, but can’t because we prevent Him from doing so all because we fail to pray.
Refusing To Be Active In The Lord’s Church
Christians bind the hands of Jesus by refusing to take part in the church that He established. The church is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). As His body, we are individually members of one another (1 Corinthians 12:27).
As members of one another we should care for each other (Ephesians 4:15-16). It is through such “mutual edification” that Christ provides much of the help we need to serve Him. If we fail to do our share in doing the Lord’s work, we bind the hands of Jesus.
A physical head is no good without the rest of the body, and it is the same with Christ and His church. If we do more, He can do more. Have we considered the fact that failure to do our part handicaps the body of Christ? Because of neglect and apathy two things will happen. First of all, the whole body will suffer. Secondly, others are forced to do “double duty” to make up the difference.
Refusing To Share The Gospel
Finally, we bind the hands of Jesus by refusing to share the Gospel with those who are lost. Jesus has made His disciples His hands in taking the Gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 2:9). In the New Testament, all cases of conversion after the ascension of Christ into Heaven (Acts 2:9) involved a disciple spreading the word.
The same is true today. As disciples, we must be actively working as His hands and teaching His Gospel to those around us (Matthew 28:19-20). When we keep the Gospel to ourselves, we have bound the hands of Jesus again. We hinder Jesus from telling others of His wonderful grace and mercy (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; 2 John 1:3).
Everyday countless souls die with no hope of eternal salvation. Brethren, this does not have to be. We must stop the pursuit of worldly pleasures and start proclaiming His word to others. The chorus of a hymn we sometimes sing says, “Into our hands the Gospel is given, Into our hands is given the light….” What are we doing with the saving Gospel of Christ?
Conclusion:
Brethren and friends, we did not have to be in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. to bind the hands of Jesus. In fact, we may be guilty of the same offense today, as these are just a few of the ways to bind Him up so that He cannot do anything.
It is time to “loose” the hands of Jesus in us, so that through us, He may accomplish His full desire to save, to transform, and to use (Acts 4:10-12; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:10; 2 Timothy 2:19-21).