Easter ReflectionsSample

Jesus, after being tried by the Jewish council, was then transferred to Pilate for a second trial (Matthew 27:1-2). This was necessary because Roman law would not allow Jewish religious courts to execute someone without Roman consent. So they took him to the governor of the area, Pilate. Pilate wasn't quite sure what to do with Jesus because he didn't think he was guilty (John 18:38). So, he thought he could avoid crucifying him while also satisfying the crowd's demands by having him scourged/flogged (Matthew 27:26; John 19:1).

The scourging would embarrass Jesus and severely injure him. The purpose of scourging was to "flay someone to the bone." The scourged one was often tied to a post in the middle of a courtyard for everyone to view. Then they would get down on their knees and be lashed by a whip. A single whip had nine cords coming out of the handle, and at the end of each cord was a laced piece of metal or bone shaped like a cat's claw. Hence the name "cat of nine tails," as some people would refer to the weapon. The curved pieces of metal and bone were designed to dig into someone's skin upon contact, as a fishing hook digs into a fish's mouth.

After digging into someone's skin, the man hitting the punished prisoner would rip it out. Chunks of flesh and skin would come out of the backs of prisoners. Scourging would dig into someone's skin to the point that veins, arteries, and even internal organs would tear out. We don't know how many times Jesus was hit with the cat of nine tails, but the apostle Paul was hit thirty-nine times in 2 Corinthians 11:24, which was the standard number of lashes. Why were Paul and, most likely, Jesus hit thirty-nine times? It was widely believed that forty lashes would kill a man. According to historians, some men died after being scourged and never made it to the cross to be crucified.

The New Testament writers don't spend a lot of time talking about the details of Jesus being scourged or even his crucifixion. Instead, they talk more about what it meant, which is certainly more significant. So, for example, in 1 Peter 3:18, we read, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God." He mentions "suffered" to sum up all the physical pain Jesus went through being scourged and hung on the cross, but then he tells us what it means: that it was for the forgiveness of our sins so we could be brought to God.

Jesus was unfairly beaten (Pilate conceded as much), but praise be to God that he willingly took the cat of nine tails and the nails of the cross and a spear to his side for our sake. Hopefully, you remember the meaning of Jesus' suffering this Easter and for the rest of your life. By it, you have been brought into the presence of an amazing God and will experience his satisfying glory for all of eternity in heaven.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for suffering the scourging for our sins so that I can be reconciled to a glorious God. I praise you for the joy of belonging to God that I will be able to experience not only here on earth but in heaven eternally. Amen.