The Nails

The impact of Jesus's sacrifice on Christian life

The Nails is a heartfelt ballad by Michael Schroeder, expressing the remorse and love felt by Christians when pondering the great sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins. The song itself is subdued and quite simple in structure and performance. However, this simplicity belies the power in the words and message it contains.

The song begins with the refrain, expressing the Christian belief that the reason Jesus was nailed to the cross and a spear was thrust into his side was because of our sins. If humanity had not been, and has not been, sinful, Jesus would not have had to die to redeem us from our sins. Every blow of the hammer to drive the nails into his hands was an outcome of our sinning. If we were justly punished for our sinfulness, we would have been on that cross, not Jesus. He suffered all that pain, all that humiliation, because of his great love for us. He died for our sins. And even after his great sacrifice, we still sin.

In the first verse, Michael reflects on the sacrifice itself. He asks, almost in disbelief, "what kind of love, what kind of grace could ever forgive all my mistakes?" Think about that question. Would you be able to repeatedly forgive a person who constantly lied to you, cheated you, and treated you as second rate? Not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Mt 18:21-22)? Would you be able to die for someone who treated you in such a manner? Most people would no longer want to have any interactions at all with this type of person after a relatively few put-downs? And would they die for someone like that? Very unlikely. But Jesus did just that - he forgave us and he died for us. We disparage and deny God, yet it was the Son of God who paid for our sins.

In the second verse, Michael recounts the effects Jesus's death on the cross has had on people. It has given hope of spending eternity with Jesus. It has increased the faith that God will keep his promises. It has resulted in the realization of God's great love for us, though we are sinners. These wonders change people's hearts. They enable one to dedicate one's life to God, spreading the good news of the Gospel. They bring peace in the knowledge that we are saved.

Michael ends the song with the refrain, singing again of the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for us, unworthy as we are. Jesus was nailed to the cross - it should have been each of us because of the pain we have caused God. Jesus had a spear thrust in his side - our water and blood should have been spilled, not those of the Son of God.  We should have died, not the man who never sinned.

Originally posted on Christian Rock Musicality. If you like this post, please subscribe to my blog.

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