It’s interesting to contrast how the suffering of Jesus is portrayed. There are depictions that are rated PG. There’s hardly any blood; and Jesus looks more annoyed than in pain. There’s a heavenly glow around His head, as He gazes into heaven. Then there are depictions that more accurately portray His suffering, like Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. It was rated R for its violence. But Gibson really didn’t go far enough. To understand the physical impact the scourging had on Jesus, you have to start in Gethsemane.
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” - Luke 22:44 (NIV)
The drops of blood Luke (a doctor) refers to, are a result of a medical condition called hematidrosis. Severe anxiety breaks the capillaries in the sweat glands, which results in “bloody sweat.” This is important to the scourging of Jesus because it causes skin to be extremely sensitive.
People often think Jesus got 39 lashes, but that was a Jewish limitation. Roman scourging was more severe. They punished victims within an inch of death. Soldiers used a whip of braided leather with metal balls woven into them. When they struck the flesh, the balls caused bruises, which, after enough blows, would break open. The whip also had pieces of sharp bone to cut the skin. The objective was to shred the muscles of the back, buttocks, and legs. Often, part of the spine was exposed from deep cuts. The whipping would focus on the shoulders all the way down the back of the legs. Historians say that six out of ten men would die from this beating.
“The sufferer’s veins were laid bare and the very muscles and bowels, [or intestines] of the victim were open to exposure.” - Third-century historian, Eusebius
But they didn’t stop there. They took a thorny branch and wove it into a crown, a coronation wreath. They pressed it down on His brow. There aren’t a lot of nerve endings in the forehead, but there are many capillaries. The result would have been a bloody mess - blood matting down His hair, filling His ears, and getting into His eyes. Christ was stripped and dressed in a purple robe. Then they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews.” Now what makes this beating so amazing is not just the extreme nature of it, but that it was allowed to happen in the first place. Which brings us to ask: “WHY?”
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.” - 1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
“No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely.” - John 10:18a (Easy to Read)
What is even more amazing than the sever nature of Christ’s suffering is the thought that none of it was forced. No one was doing this to Jesus against His will, at any second He could have put a stop to it.
Navy Seals go though a time of training that is so intense that they consume over 7,000 calories a day and still lose weight. They might get a maximum of four hours of sleep for an entire week. But at any time within their training process, there is a bell that is centrally located. All they have to do at any time is ring that bell and all the pain will come to an end. They are volunteers; no one is forcing them to become a Seal. All they have to do is ring the bell.
Perhaps the most amazing thing to consider in pondering the torture of Christ is that He didn’t ring the bell. Now, with all this as a backdrop, I want you to understand that the Romans were also faced with the ultimate question, “What will you do with Jesus?” And their response was to torture and crucify Him. Why?
IGNORANCE
Now, there are two things we need to understand about ignorance.
1. Ignorance is no excuse.
Ignorance is a favorite defense of ours. We figure we can’t be culpable for what we didn’t know. Don’t blame me; I didn’t know. Do you ever say that? We often justify our guilt by pleading ignorance. Did you take out the trash? I didn’t know today was trash day. Did you eat the last Popsicle? I didn’t know that was the last one. Are you aware there is a dress code in the office? I didn’t know that. Did you know that you are beating the Son of God beyond recognition? Did you know the blood that is spattered upon your face is payment for your sins? Did you know that the bruises you give Him are for your transgressions? That by His wounds you are healed? I didn’t know . . .
But when it comes to our relationship with God, we can’t plead ignorance. While ignorance might be an explanation, it is not an
acceptable defense. Attorneys will tell you that ignorance is not an allowable defense in a criminal case. It’s not a legitimate excuse.
Imagine you get a new job and you’re given an employee manual, but you never look at it. On the first day of work you come in after 9 AM. You’re wearing ratty jeans, a pair of flip-flops, a tank-top, and a cap. After a two hour lunch break you come back and find a note on your door from the boss. After your offenses are laid out you say, “I didn’t know.” But, it’s your responsibility to know. The book was given to you. Even if you ignored it and didn’t read it, you’re still accountable for its guidelines.
This same principle of responsibility applies to our relationship with God. We’ll all one day give an account to God, and pleading ignorance will not be an option. Ignorance will not remove your guilt.
In Acts 3:13b-15 (NIV), Peter tells the people of Israel, “You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Peter then goes on the say in verse 17, “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.” Then in verse 19, he gives the appropriate response to those who in their ignorance killed Jesus “. . . Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out . . .” Though they acted in ignorance, that didn’t get them off the hook. Repentance was still needed. Ignorance is no excuse. Why? Because . . .
2. Man’s ignorance is willful.
This is why ignorance with respect to God is no excuse. Ignorance comes from the word, “ignore,” which describes man’s choice about God’s revelation. Man has chosen to ignore God’s revelation.
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” - Romans 1:20 (NLT)
What Paul refers here to “general revelation.” If a person seeks to know the God who has revealed Himself in creation, God’s promise is that He will give that person whatever other revelation is needed so they might know Him personally and intimately.
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” - Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)
God’s revelation is like car headlights. If I were to leave the church parking lot, my headlights don’t shine down 1st street, Avenue I, Yucca Drive, and up my driveway. No, they shine out so far, and when I’ve traveled that distance, they shine out further. It’s only as I move forward that I have more light. It’s the same with God’s revelation. And just like I can put on the brakes when driving my car, we can put on the brakes with God’s revelation. In fact, that’s the way the human race at large, is described.
“No one is seeking God.” - Romans 3:11b
But for those who do respond to God’s revelation, more will be given so that they might come to know God in personal relationship through Christ. An example of this is Cornelius in Acts 10, who was a God fearing man who sought the Lord. The Holy Spirit sent Peter to explain the Good News to him, so he might know Christ.
On that first Easter, though most Romans remained ignorant, one did not. He did not ignore what God made known to Him that day. He
believed (Mark 15:39). The same happened with one of the thieves who was crucified beside Jesus (Luke 23:39-43); and the same can happened for you.
Conclusion: 32 degrees Fahrenheit is equally the point where water turns to ice or ice turns to water. It all depends on which way the temperature is heading. God’s revelation can harden or soften your heart toward God. It all depends on which way you’re heading - toward God or away from Him. Which way are you heading?
Some today need to commit to seeking God. Let His revelation draw you to Him today. Keep asking questions, there are answers.
Some today need to commit to knowing God. God has brought you to the place where you have had enough questions answered that you recognize that Jesus is THE ANSWER and you are ready to give your life to Him.
Others need to commit to showing God. Perhaps you know Christ and you recognize the need to be used like Peter was. Be a willing
witness who tells a seeking soul about our gracious God!
