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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion April 5, 2007 O Sacred Head |
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Frontline Devotion for Thursday, April 5, 2007 by Don Kress
Today’s text is brutal – graphically brutal. Today’s text picks up where yesterday’s left off – with Jesus having just been sentenced to death by Pilate. Pilate then turned Jesus over to the Roman soldiers for whipping and crucifixion. It was a Roman custom to whip condemned men before crucifying them. A Roman whipping, called 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 It tears chunks of flesh with it as it is withdrawn after each stroke.
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 about three years ago, 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 is Maundy Thursday, the night during which Jesus suffered this trial and brutal beating. Tomorrow is Good Friday, and I hope I will get to sing the hymn “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. Since watching “The Passion of the Christ,” 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 you and me, 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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