THE SCOURGING OF JESUS!
John 19:1-5
19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Jesus was scourged in the Roman manner because the Jews were forbidden by their law to beat a man beyond forty stripes or his flesh cut by the beating.
Deut 25:2-3
2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.
3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.
Seeing Jesus standing there robed in purple, stained red with his own blood, and crowned with thorns, it is hard to imagine that Pilate’s purpose in was to release Jesus!
1. It was a means of Examination
Pilate hoped that the scourging would loosen Jesus’ silent tongue and either bring forth proof of his innocence or guilt. But like a lamb before her shearers is dumb, he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
2. It appealed to the Sensibilities of the Jews
This scourging was illegal because Jesus had not been pronounced guilty of anything. The act itself was meant to prove that this king posed no threat to Caesar. The fierceness of the whipping was meant to appeal to the compassion of the Jews. “Behold the man!” Pilate asked them to gaze upon the beaten Jesus and judge if this in itself was not sufficient punishment. But the Jews presently leveled a new charge against Jesus – that he claimed to be the Son of God. This revelation caused Pilate great fear. He had already been warned by his wife to have no dealings with this just man and now he is in danger of offending one of the gods.
3. The scourging reveals the insensibility of “religious” men
Before this ever took place, Jesus told His disciples this would happen.
Matt 20:18-19
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
4. The scourging of Jesus was for our healing
Isa 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Dear Jesus, the whipping you took for me seems excessive – until I review my many sins. Thank you for your sacrifice. AMEN
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