The Coach Bobby Bowdon service recently conducted at Honey Lake Church has been posted and may be viewed by following this link:
http://www.honeylakechurch.com/bobby-bowden-service.php
I watched it yesterday morning and enjoyed it very much. I’ve heard Coach Bowden speak many times and without question this was the best sermon that I’ve personally heard him deliver.
Coach Bowden speaks plainly and from his heart. It’s obvious he’s not trying to impress anyone with his vast accomplishments, or his oratory skills, rather that he simply has genuine concern and love for everyone in the room.
He told the congregation that we should stand up for Jesus Christ publicly. At one point he talked about the crucifixion of Jesus and the 39 lashes he received prior to being nailed to the cross.
I researched Roman scourging and learned that it was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution. The usual instrument was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls and sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals The prisoner was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged either by two soldiers, or by one who alternated positions. The scourging was severe and intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or death.
As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and tissue. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock. The extent of blood loss often determined how long the victim would survive on the cross.
According to the Bible Jesus was severely whipped. (Although the severity of the scourging is not discussed in the four gospel accounts, it is implied in one of the epistles [1Peter 2:24]. A detailed word study of the ancient Greek text for this verse indicates that the scourging of Jesus was particularly harsh.
It is not known whether the number of lashes was limited to 39, in accordance with Jewish law; we do know that the soldiers mocked Him because He had claimed to be a king. they placed a robe on his shoulders, a crown of thorns on his head, and a wooden staff as a scepter in his right hand. Next, they spat on Jesus and struck him on the head with the wooden staff. Moreover, when the soldiers tore the robe from Jesus’ back, they probably reopened the scourging wounds.
Coach Bowden encouraged us to visualize receiving just one of those blows on our backs. He declared that he would not have been able to endure the pain from it, but Jesus had willingly taken all 39 of them in order that we might be forgiven of our sins. In fact He endured much more physical pain including being nailed to the cross, but worst of all He took on all of the dirty black sins of the entire world since the dawn of time.
Imagine the horror of enduring that event by the holy, sinless, perfect Lamb of God!
The other day someone came over to me at a social gathering and began whispering about Jesus Christ. I remarked to this person that they should not be ashamed to say the name of Jesus Christ in public, or worry that someone may overhear them talking about Jesus; nor should any of us try to hide the fact that we are believers. I suggested that rather than be embarrassed about who might overhear, we should wear it as a badge of honor and boldly proclaim our free gift of forgiveness to the entire world.
If more folks would proudly stand up for being a follower of Jesus Christ, the world would be a better place. Prayer would never have been removed from schools and replaced by policemen, and 63 million aborted babies would be alive today.
As for me I don’t care if I’m on a plane, in a restaurant, at an event with the most elite in our society, or where I go, I proudly stand up for Christ and anyone who doesn’t like it can be damned. I have been derisively accused of “wearing my religion on my sleeve”. To that I say, “Yes I do! And proudly so! I wish more people would join me and I’m sure Jesus does too.”
We should boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things. Christ does not say that we deserve a reward for standing up and being counted for Him, just that we shall receive a reward; it is His free gift of forgiveness and salvation to all who love Him enough to publicly profess their faith in Him and turn from their sins as best they know how.
If we cannot stand up and speak up for Christ after all that He did for us, then we don’t deserve His salvation and will not receive it; (Read the verse below).
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
Matt. 10:33
But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
September 27, 2013 – Click here to listen