Semper Fidelis or Semper Fi in its common usage is the motto of the United States Marine Corp. It was adopted as the USMC motto in 1875, or 1883. The motto’s origin is unknown though it was common in Western Europe for hundreds of years before.

Semper Fidelis means, always faithful.

Sgt. William Harvey Carney was a slave in the south until rescued by his family and brought to the north where he was able to secure a good education with the intention of becoming a minister.

The Civil War changed all that and he joined the all black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. There is a monument to these men which has recently been defaced by the Antifa and BLM rioters

On July 18th 1863 he was part of the battle for Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina.

During the assault the flag bearer was shot and infantryman Carney (promoted to sergeant later) was able to grab the flag before it hit the ground. He then carried it through withering fire right up to the fort and held on to it even after being shot four times.

When the Union army was forced to retreat he was evacuated back to the men of the 54th where he relinquished the flag to the color guard (flag bearers).

As his fellow infantrymen applauded him upon his return the twenty-three year old called out, “Boys the old flag never touched the ground!”

Sgt. William Harvey Carney was the first black man to win the Medal of Honor in the Civil War. Though this great man was not a marine, this is Semper Fidelis.

As a footnote, Sgt. Carney’s great courage highlights the fact that the flag bearer of either the American flag or the Confederate flag was always the target of the opposing force.

When one of them was shot another man would retrieve it, often before it hit the ground and carry it until he too was killed or wounded, then another would bravely bear the colors forward.

Several men would often be lost as they bore the flag high before their comrades during the charge. But seeing the flag in front of them would in turn give the men in battle the courage to charge on into the fray.

Bravery is defined by General Omar Bradley as follows.

“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly, even when scared half to death.”

The American flag is more than cloth with a red and blue dyed design of stripes and stars, though many see it that way.

The flag when viewed by those who have seen death, or lived through the inevitable miseries of life, see the faces of long gone loved ones who have lived under it and often died for it.

Old Glory does not represent corrupt government or oppression. It represents the American people who have had the freedom to live under it. That freedom extends to the right to vote evil men in government out.

A friend who served in Viet Nam once said that at times during war officers would ask for volunteers for a suicide mission. There would be courageous volunteers, but my friend added, every one of them would think in the back of his mind “I might get through this.”

He then added that there was One who volunteered for a suicide mission knowing that, without fail, He would die a horrendous lingering death.

This was done before angels, time or men existed. Within the Godhead it was already known that mankind would rebel against God, so the plan of salvation was put in place, and Jesus Christ, God the Son, volunteered for the suicide mission.

So fully confident in the bravery of Jesus, and through His foreknowledge, God reckoned the deed as already having been accomplished.

“All who dwell on the earth [during the tribulation] will worship him [the beast, 666], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

Jesus’ sacrifice was done as far as God was concerned “…from the foundation of the world.” Yet, Jesus waited an eternity before He entered this world as a baby, and laying aside all of His prerogatives He grew up as a Man just like us.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8.

“For He [Jesus] shall grow up before Him [God the Father] as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty [appearance] that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2.

Even so, for a time in His youth the grace of Jesus could only gather admirers. Yet at the same time this gracious child must have been a bully magnet.

What vicious bully could resist slapping Him across the head, or pushing Him down, a child who would take it quietly? And no, there was no thunderclap and lightning bolt to consume the bully afterward.

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18.

However, the bullying never really ceased. As He began His ministry He attracted the attention of the religious bullies, the scribes, Pharisees, the priests and civil authorities.

Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, their response is as follows.

“And when He [Jesus] had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” Mark 3:5-6.

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3.

“He is despised and rejected by men…” that is present tense all mankind has to come to the point where they accept or reject Christ.

“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12.

God’s witness, “There is none righteous, no, not one…” not one!

Then one day, after putting up with this Man for over three years an evil council was convened.

“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs [miracles confirming He was the Messiah]. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’” John 11:47-48.

“Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:53.

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” Mark 14:10-11.

“Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.’ And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him, then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’” John 13:26-27.

After the Passover supper Jesus took His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane.

“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44.

Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps during a divorce or finding your spouse with another, or perhaps with a bullying neighbor whose menacing ways have driven you to your knees?

There are things that suck the very life out of us, pain, danger, loss, menace, disease or death.

Remember the day when your heart felt as if it would burst, your hands were clammy, your face flushed, and you sweat from fear – Jesus knew those days and He understands ours.

After Jesus’ arrest He was put before a kangaroo court wherein they could not get any lying witnesses to agree.

“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.” Matthew 26:59-60a.

So the high priest finally asked a question Jesus had to answer.

“I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Matthew 26:63b.

“Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said [yes]…” Matthew 26:64a.

With that, the high priest was able to engage in the hypocrite’s histrionics.

“Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?’” Matthew 26:65-68.

“So then Pilate [Roman governor] took Jesus and scourged Him [whipped with a cat-o-nine causing severe damage]. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.’” John 19:1-4.

“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6.

“Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men…” Isaiah 52:14.

How many soldiers have lain on the battlefield in agony with horrific wounds awaiting the medics? Many have even had to stumble on, in spite of the pain as Jesus did.

Pain from catastrophic injuries or disease was unbearable, but folks had to bear it, just like Jesus did. The difference is that Jesus, the Creator of everything, did not have to endure anything. By just saying the word, creation would have ceased to exist.

“For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [are held together].” Colossians 1:16-17.

It was not nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love.

“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:17-19.

The sucking in of the breath as the nail was about to be driven through His hand must have been like that of soldiers, tested and untested, just before the ramp on their landing craft dropped on Omaha Beach in World War II.

Or even as the gasps of firemen on 911 as they drew up to the unspeakable carnage of the twin towers before they collapsed.

And then they dropped the cross into the hole.

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.”’” Matthew 27:39-43.

“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” Matthew 27:45.

Jesus Christ was crucified at 9 am. The sixth hour was noon and darkness descended until the ninth hour, 3 pm. Three hours of darkness when Jesus paid for our sins.

This cannot be compared to any of man’s experiences because the pain was not just outward, nor was it torture of the mind which so many have gone through; it was His soul that was burned up.

“Yet it pleased the Lord [God] to bruise Him [Jesus]; He has put Him to grief. When You [God] make His soul an offering for sin…” Isaiah 53:10a.

And there in the darkness as Jesus bore the sins of the world, He cried out.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?” Psalm 22:1.

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” Psalm 22:6-8.

“Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan [the religious leaders] have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs [Gentiles] have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” Psalm 22:12-17.

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’” Luke 23:44-47.

The centurion a warrior in his own right attested to a warrior who fought a fight none of us could fight, or win.

And to show that Jesus won the battle for us, God resurrected Him from the dead on the third day.

“… [Jesus] who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 4:25-5:1.

Semper Fidelis to the Lord Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us that we might be with Him for eternity.

Semper Fidelis taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 8-18-18, updated on 6-22-20.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.