The final step in the crucifixion of Christ was piercing His side with a spear. This use of a spear was a bit unusual in Roman crucifixion. Typically, when the executioners grew tired of waiting on the deaths of those being crucified they would break the legs of the victim. This removed any ability to raise the body to get relief and suffocation came quickly. In Jesus’ case His time on the cross was shorter that what would normally have been expected. The severe beating He received no doubt contributed to the shortened time on the cross. The Roman soldier did not pierce Christ with the spear to kill Him. He pierced Him to see if Jesus was actually dead.
In the process of self crucifixion we are all going to experience some spiritual spears to see if we are really dead to the issues of self God wants eliminate. The spear will present itself as temptation and in the challenges of daily living. Satan will never stop His attempts to prevent God being glorified in our lives and His primary weapon is to stimulate our self-will in opposition to God. If we are truly dead to the self sin in question, temptation and trial will be overcome by faith and obedience to God’s truth. If we are not dead to the self sin we will disobey and succumb to the temptation. We will then reap and experience the consequences of our disobedience. In other words, the beating will continue until self-will is really dead!
The crucifixion of self is a long process that equates to living our life on a cross. The crucifixion of self begins by dealing with the grosser sins of behavior. The process continues far beyond behavior and ultimately attacks our sin at the level of thought and motive. It is when the issues that lie in our hearts are challenged that the crucifixion of self becomes fully engaged. God would have it that every instance of sin and self-will be taken to the cross and crucified. As each issue of self is defeated and crucified, the life of Jesus becomes the visible reflection that can be seen in and through us.
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