What a strange question! but it refers to the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and is a prophecy concerning His birth and death. The prophet Zechariah foretold His coming with this name and title, chapter 10 and verse 4 of his prophecy: "Out of him (the tribe of Judah) shall come forth . . . The Nail!" Numerous titles are given the Son of God in the Bible but this may be one of the strangest yet filled with great significance.
In Old Testament times a nail was used as a tent pin, driven into the ground (Exodus 27:19) and also as a strong pin, built into the wall of an eastern building securely, to hang vessels upon (Ezekiel 15:3). This latter explanation suggests why Christ is called "The Nail."
The Nail is to bear burdens. We place many things upon a nail, transferring them from ourselves, putting them upon the provided burden-bearer. The significant reason that Christ came to be "The Nail" is – He is the great Burden Bearer!
1. As The Nail, He bore the burden of our sin! It was upon the cross that Christ accomplished this great work: "who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24). The burden was incalculably heavy, for "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). It was the whole world’s guilt that hung on the Blessed One: "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). There was no other person who could and did bear this load for us and he did not fail! "One died for all". Have you acknowledged that your sins were there laid upon Him? If so, you will know the joy of these words: "All thy sins were laid upon Him, Jesus bore them on the tree; God, Who knew them, laid them on Him And believing, thou are free".
If not, find "The Nail" this moment: "we have found HIM" said Philip (John 1:45). "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Now turn to Him while you may; by faith see your sins "laid on Him" and you will find The Nail!
2. As the nail, He bears the burden of our cares! Troubles and sorrows fill the earth, from which none are exempt, but if we have found "The Nail" we shall find Him able to carry all our cares also. Surely, if we believe that He bore all our sins, we can also trust Him to carry all our care! Absolutely! Peter has bidden us to do this, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). How foolish for us to carry our own burdens with such provision as the Nail! "Cast thy burden on the Lord" wrote the Psalmist, "and He shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22). What are you doing with your burdens? Are you carrying them yourself? Find the Nail! Hang them on Him today and do not remove them! He is a "sure Nail." You can trust Him wholly, for "they that trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true". Have you found the Nail?
3. As the Nail He will have eternal glory! "They shall hang upon Him all the glory of His father’s house" (Isaiah 22:24). The treasures of the house of David were hung in splendor upon the nails embedded in the walls, emblems of kingly glory. Today, the universe hangs on Him! (Heb. 1:3); tomorrow the government of the earth will hang on Him! (Isaiah 9:6) and in eternity the glory of universal reign, in heaven and earth, will hang on Him also (Eph. 1:10; Phil. 2:9-11).
Then why cannot we hang the glory of our lives upon the Nail today? He is worthy! Our sins were laid on Him! Our cares can be laid on Him! Our love; our talents; our possessions; our all, is worthy to be hung on that blessed Nail! Some day, a redeemed universe will ascribe unto the Nail eternal glory, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!" (Rev. 5:11). Why wait for that day? Do it now! Have you found the Nail?
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Bramhall was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, the son of Peter Bramhall (died 1635) of Carleton. He matriculated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1609, and graduated B.A. 1612, M.A. 1616, B.D. 1623, D.D. 1630 . He was ordained around 1616, and was presented with a Yorkshire living, South Kilvington, by Christopher Wandesford.
He went to Ireland in 1633 with Thomas Wentworth and was archdeacon of Meath. As a royal commissioner he worked to obtain the surrender of fee-farms on episcopal and clerical revenues, recovering church income. He was consecrated bishop of Derry in the chapel of Dublin Castle on 16 May 1634, succeeding the Puritan George Downham.