Scourging at the Pillar¶
Pilate had examined Jesus and declared him innocent of any crime worthy of death. Yet to appease the chief priests and the raging crowd he delivered him to be scourged. The soldiers led Jesus into the Praetorium and bound him to the pillar. Here the physical torment of the Passion begins in earnest.
Modern sentiment often reduces this scene to political expediency or random Roman brutality. The ancient Church has always beheld something far deeper: the incarnate Son voluntarily submitting His sinless flesh to the lash in fulfillment of prophecy and for the healing fron our own rebellion.
The Prophecy¶
The ancient Church has always beheld in the words of Isaiah the clear foretelling of this very moment. Centuries before the Incarnation the Prophet saw the Messiah willingly offering His body to be beaten.
Isaiah 50:6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
The incarnate Son did not resist. He submitted His sinless flesh to the lash in perfect fulfillment of this prophecy. The Fathers teach that here the divine plan of redemption advances through voluntary suffering.
Isaiah 53:5
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.
These words point directly to the sinless Christ at the pillar, whose stripes purchase our healing and our salvation.
Roman Scourging¶
The soldiers led Jesus into the Praetorium. They stripped Him of His garments and bound Him to the low pillar used for this punishment. The Roman flagrum was the standard instrument for non-citizens and slaves. Jewish law limited strokes to thirty-nine. Roman practice had no such restraint. The blows fell with full force across the back, shoulders, and legs until the flesh hung in ribbons.
Josephus records that many men died under scourging before they ever reached the cross. The centurion in charge carried out Pilate's order with the efficiency Rome demanded of its auxiliaries. No appeal. No pause. No mercy.
Matthew 27:26
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The incarnate Son submitted His sinless flesh to this Roman scourging. The Fathers teach that here the divine plan of redemption advanced through voluntary suffering accepted for the sins of the world. Christ submits voluntarily to the worst consequences of our rebellion from God.
Bloodied Stripes¶
The scourging ended. The body of Jesus was covered in blood. The flesh hung in ribbons from His back and shoulders. Blood flowed freely from the wounds inflicted by the Roman whip.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
The Fathers beheld in these bloodied stripes the actual price paid for our salvation. The sinless One bore in His flesh the chastisement that brings peace to the world, taking upon Himself our own treacherous cruelty and evil, to overcome and save us from our sins.
Perfect Obedience¶
Jesus stood bound to the pillar. He offered no resistance. He spoke no word of complaint. The sinless Son submitted His flesh in perfect obedience to the Father's will.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
The Fathers teach that in this obedience the new Adam reversed the first man's disobedience and brought salvation to the world.
All glory to God!