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and having scourged Jesus |Devotion #1|

Today I read this pericope-

Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:26🩸✝️

And so I googled what it meant to be "scourged".

Here are some images towards this gruesome act:


"

The blows came from a whip with many leather strands, each having sharp pieces of bone or metal at the ends. It reduced the back to raw flesh, and it was not unusual for a criminal to die from a scourging, even before crucifixion✝️.

Scourging was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution, and only women and Roman senators or soldiers (except in cases of desertion) were exempt.

"

Dr. William Edwards “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ”

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The goal of the scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death. “As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues🔪. Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh☠️. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock. The extent of blood loss may well have determined how long the victim would survive the cross.

"

Dr. William Edwards “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ”


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The severe scourging, with its intense pain and appreciable blood loss🩸, most probably left Jesus in a pre-shock state. Moreover, hematidrosis had rendered his skin particularly tender. The physical and mental abuse😵 meted out by the Jews and the Romans, as well as the lack of food, water, and sleep, also contributed to his generally weakened state. Therefore, even before the actual crucifixion, Jesus’ physical condition was at least serious and possibly critical.

"

Dr. William Edwards “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ”



At the end of my devotion today, my heart dropped and unconsciously grieved very much😭😭. How can they do that to our Lord Jesus Christ?😡😱 And yet Jesus in his glory and noble heart went through all that...🥺

He underwent the Crucifixion so that we might be able to receive eternal life through our faith in Him🕊️.

And what surprises me at the end is this commentary:


"

Commonly the blows of scourging would lessen as the criminal confessed to his crimes.

Jesus remained silent, having no crimes to confess, so the blows continued with full strength.


"

EnduringWord Commentary “Matthew 27:26”

If Jesus really wanted to, He can send His angels to fight back and save Him⚔️.

If Jesus really wanted to, He can lie by "confessing" to His crimes (even though He was innocent).

. . .Yet He did not do all that. He kept silent😶.


 

Reflection

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for undergoing so much suffering on that Cross🛐. For keeping Your glorious covenant🌟. For loving us to which we don't deserve. And foremost, thank You for being silent throughout all that...😶


As Matthew 12:20 reminded me: "a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory✊;"

You did not once complained, swore, or even shifted in Your resolution.

Just as the picture, You underwent all that without quenching the smoldering wick🕯️...not disrupting anyone, but silently just going about Your business. In Your humbleness O Lord, until Your justice was victorious through Your Resurrection🌟.


Help me O Lord to bear my much much smaller cross daily. To be inspired by all that You've gone through as an act of grace🤗. A grace so divine that melts my very essence😭. Thank You Jesus so so so much. For ALL that You went through. How glorious You are!!!🎺👑☀️ In the midst of all that keeping a silent demeanor. Always looking towards the Father and relying on Him through it all. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You... In Jesus' name i pray. Amen.



Updated on: November 24, 2022



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