Cut down in His prime
- Mark Baylis
- Aug 20
- 5 min read
It is no longer such a difficult matter for me to admit I am well past my prime! There was a time when it was, though! Now approaching my mid 60’s and contending with a recent complex health condition that only reinforces the reality that I’m not quite as capable in many ways I once was…In fact I feel I have been cut down in my prime.
And that inevitably goes for all of us, should we get to live longer - itself a ‘gift,’ sadly, not afforded to all. No longer am I able to run and race which I had done from early school days, consequent to a longstanding chronic calves’ injury that even surgery failed to rectify.
It’s been many years since I last experienced the hard-earned satisfaction of a new PB (Personal Best) such as a sub 5 min/mile 5K or even a sub 11-hour Iron Distance triathlon in my 50th year - which eventually proved to be the last time I raced injury free. Significantly, all my running PB’s were closely clustered between my 29th/30th years. My very own purple patch. My running prime time. What followed over the years, however, was the inevitable but gradual slowing down and trying to avoid the onset of too many PW’s! (Personal Worsts)
When I was a young enthusiastic long-distance runner the experienced wisdom of that time was that the marathon runner, in particular, matured in their early 30’s. Contemporary understanding hasn’t changed that much. A simple internet search indicates that ‘men generally reach their physical peak in their late twenties and early thirties.’ There is, of course, more to being in the prime condition of your life than just fitness and stamina!
I specifically refer to the quality of experience. It is said, ‘you can’t buy it’ and it generally doesn’t come quickly either. It usually and often by necessity, takes time to garner. It can take years. It often comes from learning what doesn’t work well as indeed, what does and is encapsulated within all aspects of daily living including the dynamic within interpersonal relationships as well as all activities of daily living.
With regard to functional tasks. I bet you that Jesus of Nazareth was a highly
skilled and experienced Carpenter! A master craftsman! ‘Time served’ over years of graft. Think about it. He was probably learning joinery skills from knee high - way younger in age than our apprentices of today. Like a lot of sons of craftsmen, he would have learned on the job with Joseph. He would necessarily have been strong and dextrous in stature and used to bending, lifting and stretching.
A simple summary of carpentry skills suggests the use of a wide range of abilities including using hand tools, accurate measuring, strong problem solving and effective communication. Jesus had all these qualities and considerably more in abundance.
As well as being strong in stature, Jesus was ridiculously fit! His step counter on his virtual fitbit would be seriously impressive. As a child he would have walked all the way to Nazareth from the family’s exile in Egypt. In His ministry years, He was a marathon walker! He crisscrossed the length and breadth of Israel and in the absence of tarmac roads hiked over a very mixed terrain and topography.
Remember, that His ministry was kickstarted by a solo sojourn into the desert all the whilst, sleeping rough - finding a cave or using his carpentry skills to fashion shelter from the desert scrub. All in a spirit of significant self-denial. No TV cameras following him ‘SAS style’ into the wilderness for a week or so! He pushed himself to the limit of human endurance. Following this remarkable physical and emotional feat he ‘returned in the power of the Spirit’ which going forward also included His being in peak fitness and well-being.
He was unarguably a superlative communicator. Likely the greatest ever! What a storyteller! He kept crowds attentive with his layered meaning parables, skilfully speaking to the ordinary people whilst confounding the ‘wise’. Able to ‘mix it’ with children and the rich and poor alike. The ‘great and the good’. The downtrodden widow and those in Herod’s court. We know that from a child he ‘grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was with him’ (Luke 2: 40)
Indeed, centuries earlier He was foretold to be Wonderful-Counsellor and Mighty-God among other remarkable attributes (Is 9: 6) And He certainly fulfilled those specific prophetic words. Written tradition holds that Mary of Nazareth was herself dedicated and educated within the Temple from her early childhood. She, in turn, was the prime teacher to her son. She evidently did a good job, as is evident in the account of how he astonished and amazed the teachers of the Temple (Gamaliel et al) with His intelligence and answers (Lk 2: 47) - aged just 12 years! After which scripture records that Jesus continued to ‘increase in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men’ (Luke 2: 52)
Joseph, Daniel and Moses to name but three, were men who, in the course of time, all had favour with men and exercised significant political leadership roles on a national and international scale. Had he wanted, Jesus could have similarly risen to leadership without recourse to usurping the Roman hierarchy. The populace, of course, wanted him to be king. Satan had previously offered Him all the kingdoms on the earth, and He turned him down flat. He certainly had all the qualities. Jesus had more wisdom than Solomon and his kingdom was vast! His discernment alone was off the charts. What a valuable quality to be able to ‘read men’s hearts! (John 2: 25)
Jesus exhibited characteristics excelling Adam before his fall. Evil (Satan) had no hold on him. He was simply exceptional in every manner. Fully human. Fully alive. Without the stinging vagaries of sin. In the flesh: He was the best of us. In the spirit: He still is.
Scripture records that Jesus laid down His life (John 10: 18) It was not taken from him.
At the appointed time. The Kairos time. The prime time for all humanity. His peak and optimum time. His fittest. In PB condition. His courageous race won. Finished and complete in all its fullness. Intentionally he submitted himself to be cut down in his early 30’s. The perfect and wholly acceptable sacrifice - without blemish. In His prime.
Selah
Comments