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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 19, 2005 O Sacred Head |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, March 19, 2005 By Don
Kress
Matthew
27:27-32
Today’s text is brutal, graphically brutal. Today’s text picks up
where yesterday’s left off – with Jesus having just been scourged by Pilate.
A scourging is brutal. It consists of a lashing using a leather whip with
pieces of bone and metal set in it. It tears chunks of flesh with it as it
is withdrawn after each stroke. It was a Roman custom to scourge condemned
men before crucifying them. It was brutal.
But the pre-crucifixion brutality suffered by Jesus didn’t stop there.
Today’s text picks up with Jesus being led into the common hall, where He was
further humiliated by the Roman soldiers. Jesus became a plaything for
this brutal, cruel crowd. The soldiers were free to do with him as they
pleased. Since He was going to die anyway, they could mutilate him and do
anything they wished with him. It is frightful what they did to him.
It’s quite possible that they played “hot hand” with him. This cruel
Roman game was often played with prisoners. All the soldiers would show
the prisoner their fists. Then they would blindfold the prisoner, and all
but one would hit him as hard as they could. Then they would remove the
blindfold and the prisoner was to guess which soldier did not hit him.
Obviously, the prisoner rarely guessed the right one, and so the game would
continue until the prisoner lost consciousness or was beaten to a bloody pulp.
Yes, the Roman soldiers understood brutality quite well.
I remember last year around this time watching the movie, “The Passion of the
Christ.” In that movie, the beating given to Jesus by the Roman soldiers
was one of the most brutal film scenes I have ever watched. In fact, I
actually found myself wishing that they’d hurry and get to the crucifixion.
And when it came, it was easier to watch the crucifixion itself than the
brutality that Christ was subjected to at the hands of the Roman soldiers.
I had read these pre-crucifixion passages countless times and just sort of
skipped over them before watching “The Passion.” Now I read them
slowly, and I envision the abject humiliation and suffering that Jesus Christ
willingly endured for me and for my salvation.
Today brings Lent to a close and tomorrow we move into Holy Week. I like
many of the songs of Holy Week, and one that I hope I will get to sing is “O
Sacred Head, Now Wounded.” For more than 800 years these lines from the
heart of a devoted medieval monk have portrayed for worshippers a memorable view
of the suffering Savior. It is difficult for me to join fellow believers
in the singing of this hymn without being moved to tears. Meditate with me
now on the words of the hymn’s second verse, and understand what Jesus
willingly did for us and for our salvation.
“What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was
the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place; look on me with Thy favor; vouch-safe to me Thy
grace.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your commitment to carrying out Your
Father’s plan, despite the incredible suffering and pain You had to endure in
doing so. Through Your commitment I have forgiveness and salvation.
What wondrous love! Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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