Hammer and Cross

Hammer and Cross

We've all gagged in the dentist chair, as the water sprayed from the turbine drill trickles over our throat. Very unpleasant, but until laser dentistry becomes the norm, we know we won't die from such discomfort. On the other hand, the CIA's infamous use of the ancient enhanced interrogation technique, known 'water boarding', is designed to make the victim believe that death is imminent, taking mental pain to the edge of tolerance. That is torture.

We've all struck our thumb with a hammer when driving that picture hook into the wall. Very unpleasant, but we know we won't die from blue thumb. However, if a hammer is used to strike a nail through our flesh, this takes physical pain to the edge of tolerance. That is torture.

Yet that was only part of the scene when Jesus was crucified. There was more, much more pain, that Jesus had to endure. The hammer was one of several implements that make up the Arms of Christ. They all contributed to the agonizing crucifixion, known as The Passion.

Roman soldiers were there to hammer the nails into the cross. But really, it was mankind's wickedness that wielded those hammers. Illogically as it sounds, we, today, caused the agony on the cross two thousand years ago. How can that be? See The Meaning of the Cross.