Thoughts on Bonds

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2000

• 1 min. read • grade level: 8

“And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matt. 27:2²And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:2)).

Chains mean nothing to a submissive man; he needs no restraint and is not daunted by obstacles. The bonds of the Lord Jesus could have been torn apart as those of Samson (Judges 15:14¹⁴And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. (Judges 15:14)), reduced to ashes as those of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3:25²⁵He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Daniel 3:25)), or just have fallen off as those of Peter or of Paul, Silas and their fellow-prisoners (Acts 12²⁵And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. (Acts 12:25),16). The will of His Father was what bound Him who said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34³⁴Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34)).

The Apostle Paul in prison exhibited the spirit of Christ when he said, “I can do all things,” in spite of the chains that bound him (Phil. 4:13¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)). If one of the Roman guards had heard him so speak, he might well have mockingly retorted, “Then why don’t you just throw off these prison chains and walk away?” Can we not hear Paul responding, “God hasn’t told me to do that.”

Paul well knew that his bonds were no hindrance to God. He could think of the earthquake that night in the prison in Philippi when “everyone’s bands were loosed.” He and Silas had sat there quietly, free yet submissive. In what perfect wisdom does He who cares for us order all our circumstances.

Happy, peaceful path—following the precious Savior in submissive confidence! May He give it to be our portion by grace, each in the chains His love has provided.

W. M. Warr

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