Fruitfulness Explained: Abiding Crucified

In the justice of the Roman Empire, murderers were often subjected to the result of their crime. This gruesome form of punishment was called staking where the murderer was tied to the one that they had killed. As their bodies were staked to the ground the death of the murdered one infected and eventually killed the murderer.

The word for staking the criminal to the crime to execute him is the same word that is used for crucifixion. Only when Paul says we are crucified with Christ, nailed with Him, attached with Him a reverse effect is implied. In the Roman torture the dead one transferred their death to the living one and they died. In Christ our death is absorbed by Him, our sin is taken, our stench is removed with our evil, and our decay – and we in turn receive from Him His life, His health, His fragrance, His power, and His righteousness.

Attached to Christ we begin to see His life lived out in us. Our hands attached to Him do His bidding, our feet go as His went, our eyes see as His saw, and so on.

The Roman death by staking meant eye to eye, face to face, body to body in horrible transference of death. In Christ we find that being planted together with Him, crucified with Him means that we now are staked to Him so that His compassion and kindness can flow from us.

Mouths crucified/staked to Christ speak His way. Jesus spoke compassionate and healing words. Remember how He spoke?