Daily Manna – January 25, 2016
Topic: From the beginning it was not so 70
Scripture: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matt 19:8)
Note: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”(Luke 23:34)
Scourging was a hideous torture. What must have been mentally difficult and unacceptable to any sane human being is to endure this hideous punishment, knowing fully that you are being unjustifiably maltreated through false accusations and unproven allegations. For the third time, Pilate confessed that he found no crime in Christ worthy of the death penalty. Jesus was therefore unjustly sentenced to be chastised so that he could be set free.
The Roman scourge consisted of the victim being stripped to the bare skin and stretched against a pillar or bent over a low post, his hands being tied. The instrument of torture was a short wooden handle to which several leather thongs were attached, with bits of iron or bone tied to the thongs. The blows were laid on the victim’s back by 2 men, one lashing the victim from one side and one from the other side. This resulted in the flesh being cut to such an extent that veins, arteries, sometimes even inner organs were exposed. Often the victim died during the flogging.
Yet, after this unjust torture, the people were not satisfied. They still shouted that Jesus should be crucified in exchange for a justly tried and sentenced felon, Barabbas.
Food for thought: The death of Christ is the most amazing exchange that ever happened in the history of the human race; exchanging the just for the unjust.
Declaration: And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16)
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
