It's Just A Flesh Wound!

There’s a classic scene from the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail. If you aren’t familiar with Monty Python, they were a sketch comedy group from England that also made a few movies. Their sense of humor is very British and very funny. The movie is set in medieval times. The scene is when King Arthur fights the dreaded Black Knight in a sword-fight. The Black Knight is the epitome of high self-esteem.

During the duel, King Arthur manages to cut off both of the Black Knight’s arms. However, the Black Knight’s confidence is unshaken. King Arthur points out that The Black Knight has no arms. The Black Knight responds, “It’s just a flesh wound!” King Arthur continues to cut off both of The Black Knight’s legs. But, The Black Knight continues to hurl insults and threats- even though he’s been reduced to an armless, legless torso.

Seeing The Black Knight’s brazen confidence is what makes the scene so funny. His confidence is completely nonsensical. Hearing an armless, legless torso hurl insults at sword-wielding man is pretty ridiculous. That’s what makes it funny. The Black Knight’s self-esteem wasn’t based on reality.

We have a similar problem. We’re guilty of being The Black Knight. However, the wound that we feel compelled to minimize is the wound that is our own depravity. Although scripture presents overwhelming evidence to us of the death-blow that we’ve received- we’re determined to arrogantly shout, “It’s just a flesh wound!”

However, scripture doesn’t paint our depravity as “just a flesh wound.” Rather, depravity’s affect on us has left us dead. That’s right, dead. Unable to do anything but sin.

Look at how Ephesians 2:1-2 describes our condition apart from Christ:

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience”

Did you get that? We are spiritually “dead” in our unregenerate state. Not wounded, dead. That powerlessness that has overtaken all of us in our fallen condition is further seen in Jesus’ words from John 6:44:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Notice he says “no one can come to me unless the Father draws him.” We’d be foolish to miss the meaning of the word “can.” Can denotes ability. As in, “I can ride a bike.” Or, “I can’t fly like a bird.” Here in John 6 Jesus is telling us that apart from God drawing us to himself, we don’t have the ability to come to him.

It should also be noted that not only do we not have the ability, we don’t have the desire. Look at Christ’s words in John 8:44:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.”

Why don’t we have that ability or desire? Again, it’s because of our depravity. Our natural desire is to please ourself and our self-focused appetites. We don’t want to repent. We don’t want follow Christ. Those desires aren’t in us at birth. What is inside of us? Look at what Jesus says in Mark 7:21-23:
“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Wow! So much for “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild.” Those are harsh words. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, we know them to be true.

So, that’s the doctrine of Depravity. We’re powerless in and of ourselves to repent. We don’t want to die to ourself. Criminals don’t seek out policemen or the police station. We are dead in our sin and trespasses. True repentance is not something that we will seek out on our own.

Now, here’s the million dollar question. Why in the world would we want to emphasize this biblical doctrine. What value is there in reminding people of their “deadness?” Why would we want to tell people that they aren’t sick but rather dead?

Well, the truth is that modern American Christianity doesn’t want to emphasize those scriptural teachings. Take a stroll through your local Christian book stores and you’ll find that the best sellers either minimize or eliminate human depravity altogether. Rather, the books which fly off of the shelves focus on our innate goodness. We’re good people and we just need a little nudge from Jesus to reach our full potential. In these books Jesus trades in his role as saviour for another role. He removes his crown of thorns to put on a hat that says “Life-Coach.”

The problem with losing the doctrine of depravity is that when we discard it, we discard Christianity. If I’m not utterly powerless, then I might not need a saviour. I might just need some moral advice. I might not need a transformed heart. I might just need some tools. But, there is a problem with advice and tools. Tools must be taken into my own hand. I must employ those tools to become my own surgeon. But, can a dead man operate on himself? The problem with advice is that I must follow it. But can a corpse follow anyone or anything? Tools and advice take my eyes off of the Cross. Tools and advice focus my attention on my own tweaking and adjusting.

Tools do me no good. I’m an armless, legless torso. I can’t walk to get the tools. I can’t pick them up. And, I don’t want to... I’m dead.

I don’t need first aid. I need a miraculous operation to bring me to life. Not back to life, but to make me alive for the very first time.

Romans 8:24-25a:
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Are you, like the Black Knight, convinced of your own strength?