KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:1 KJV “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.”

Before every Roman prisoner was crucified, he had to go through scouring. Crucifixion was not started by the Romans, but they perfected it. The flogging or scourging was to prepare the victim for the most painful death process. Women, senators, and Roman soldiers were not treated this way except soldiers who deserted from the Roman army.

 The usual instrument used for flogging was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals.  For scourging, the man was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post.  The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged either by two soldiers (lictors) or by one who alternated positions.  The severity of the scourging depended on the disposition of the lictors and was intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or 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 on the cross.  After the scourging, the soldiers then taunted the victims.

The above is a vivid picture of what the Lord went through before He was taken to be crucified. What was the significance of all these? Isaiah 53:5 KJV 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.” The Lord did no wrong to undergo any of these yet because of our sins He suffered. If He bore such intense suffering for us, do we have to carry in our bodies any disease at all? I do not think so. Matt 8:17 ISV This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “It was he who took our illnesses away   and removed our diseases.” Matthew clearly states it fully.

THOUGHT: I MAKE HIS SUFFERINGS BENEFICIAL TO ME BY REFUSING TO BEAR ANY DISEASE.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Pet 2:24 ISV “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the tree, so that we might die to those sins and live righteously.   “By his wounds, you have been healed.”

Isaiah 52:14 ISV Just as many were astonished at you—   so was he marred in his appearance, more than any human, and his form beyond that of human semblance—”