"if i had a hammer"
Jesus "canceled the bond that stood against us with all its claims, snatching it up and nailing it to the cross." —Colossians 2:14
Jesus grew up as a "carpenter's Son" (Mt 13:55). Undoubtedly, He often worked with His foster-father in his carpentry shop. Like any carpenter, Jesus would have spent much time hammering nails into wood.
Jesus' final act with a hammer was to crucify our sins and the condemnation that would have been ours. We sinned, and our sins testified constantly to our guilt. These sins form a legal bond against us. They stick to us, much like a criminal record stays with a criminal. Jesus took the record of our sins, that is, the bond against us (Col 2:14), and crucified it. He tore that list of our sins away from us, took His Carpenter's hammer, and nailed the record of our sins onto His own cross (Col 2:14). When Jesus the Carpenter nails something, it stays nailed.
When we repent of our sins and confess them to Jesus, we are no longer guilty. Jesus has taken our guilt, stomped on it, and has thrown it into the depths of the sea (Mi 7:19). "There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rm 8:1). Jesus has set us free! When the Son sets us free, we are free indeed! (Jn 8:36) "All praise to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rm 7:25)
Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your only Son Jesus to die for me. I give You my whole life. Use me to bring many people to forgiveness in Jesus.
Promise: "Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured; indeed, the whole crowd was trying to touch Him because power went out from Him which cured all." —Lk 6:18-19
Praise: Married to an alcoholic husband, Irene never lost faith, hope, or love. She daily kept her eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:2).
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 2013
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