“And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matt. 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 15:14), reduced to ashes as those of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3:25), or just have fallen off as those of Peter or of Paul, Silas and their fellow-prisoners (Acts 12,16). 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 4:34).
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. 4:13). 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