“Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.”
John 19:1-3 NLT
Those days were indeed cruel and vicious. That a human being was put through so much pain and distress at the whim of another human being is incomprehensible to us in these “enlightened” 21st Century days. But Jesus, the Son of God, was painfully abused, both emotionally and physically. What were His thoughts as he took the punishment, feeling the acute pain in His back as the whip did its worst. The thorns digging into His head. The mocking tones and jeers of the rough and violent soldiers. This was a situation far beyond what anyone in the West would experience today. But before we head for the moral high ground we should reflect that our thoughts can sometimes be directed at causing another person harm. We get angry with other people and, although nothing physical results, the damage is done. Today, we don’t have to go far before we can find all sorts of abuse published on on-line platforms, abuse that contains nasty and damaging comments directed at another person. Jesus taught in Matthew 5:21-22,“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell”.
But we have to remember that it was our sins that put Jesus in that position. Without any sin there was no need for God’s plan for the sacrifice of His Son. The Prophet Isaiah could see this day coming and he wrote, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus knew from the beginning what he was facing, but it wouldn’t have made the event any easier. Rather, it is remarkable that Jesus was prepared to do all that he did, just for you and me. He never flinched from His mission. He never called for backup when in physical danger, even though there were many angels ready and waiting for His call.
We pilgrims look back and marvel. It is impossible to fully appreciate all that Jesus did for us. How could the Creator of the Universe care so much about human beings that He put into place a plan for their salvation, so that they could be with Him forever? Sounds too good to be true? It’s too good not to be.
Dear Lord Jesus. Once again we thank You that You went to the cross for our sins, that You were whipped that we would be healed, that You suffered punishment through to death and traded Your righteousness for our sins. We are so grateful. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 