When we think about the scourging of Christ, it is amazing how much people know about it, though so little about it is spoken of in Scripture. Most people who call themselves Christians have seen paintings, or heard sermons, or have seen movies, especially recent ones, that depict the scourging of the Lord. The movie “The Passion of The Christ” portrayed the cruel, and gruesome reality of the Roman act of scourging. The short whip that was used had several thongs coming from the handle, and jagged pieces of sheep bones tied to the ends of them. When used, they created great contusions, and ripped the skin so deeply that internal organs were exposed. Because of the shock from the pain and the loss of blood many people died as a result of the scourging.The people who were scourged were tied to a post or pillar naked in great humiliation. One of the reasons the Romans practiced scourging, was because by the time the criminal was crucified they were so close to death already they didn’t last very long on the cross. Scripture indicates that Jesus died very quickly compared to most, indicating that His scourging must’ve been particularly brutal. Many theologians believe that the scourging itself was more painful physically than the final crucifixion. Why therefore, is it just briefly mentioned in three of the Gospels, and the word “scourging” is not even used in the Gospel of Luke. I believe that one of the hidden insights into the heart of God is exposed by the deliberate lack of elaboration concerning the scourging in the New Testament.
Look at S.S. 8:6-7; “Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.” The greatest riches in God’s house was his very son, and He freely gave him up to suffering and death for our rescue. As a matter of fact that last part of verse 8 tells us that God so loved us that if he had been questioned about the great price that he paid for our redemption, he would have utterly despised the idea that he gave too much. He would have given more if there had been more to give, but in giving his son he gave all. I believe that’s why scripture doesn’t elaborate more on the remarkable suffering that Jesus experienced in his scourging. Have you ever done something for someone that you cared for and when asked why you did what you did your answer was “Oh, it was nothing.” That’s the idea. Of course, we can never say that when we view the suffering he endured on our behalf. Instead, we fall down in brokenness and worship, but again, from his perspective, his great love considered it “A Joy set before Him,” as He despised the shame.
