Rediscovering His Love: The Wounds Of Jesus, His Head Series

Good Friday of Holy Week

REDISCOVERING HIS LOVE: THE WOUNDS OF JESUS, HIS HEAD*

(Isaiah 50:6)

Objective: A communion meditation for Good Friday of Holy Week, part 4 of a 4 part series on “Rediscovering His Love: The Wounds of Jesus.”

Good Friday Prayer on Christ’s Passion

O crucified Jesus, Son of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, eternal Word of God,

We worship you.

O crucified Jesus, holy temple of God, dwelling place of the Most High, gate of heaven, burning flame of love,

We worship you.

O crucified Jesus, ruler of every heart, in you are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, in you dwells all the fullness of the Godhead,

We worship you.

Jesus, lamb of God,

Have mercy on us,

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us,

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

Grant us peace.

Almighty God, look with mercy on your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and to be given over to the hands of sinners and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, now and forever.

Amen.

“I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)

Have you ever been hit in the nose? Nothing stuns you quite like being punched square in the schnauz! I have had very few fist fights in my life but I did have a few in Junior High School. Once I was hit in the nose and that was it – I was done. TKO. I never felt as vulnerable as I did at that moment. My head was swooning and I could not get my bearings. I still remember it – it was enough to bring my adolescent pugilistic ambitions to an end.

Whether you’ve been hit in the nose by a ball, a sibling, a fist fight or some accident there’s a good chance you remember it.

Have you ever paid much attention to how many assaults were inflicted directly to Jesus’ head? Some were more violent than others but all are included in his suffering.

1. The kiss of betrayal

o Mark 14:44-45 -- 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.

2. Spit of contempt in his face (twice)

o Contrast this with Jesus use of spittle to heal (Mark 8:22-26)

o Mark 14:64-65 … They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

o Mark 16:19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

3. The torture of being blindfolded

o Blindfolding (a way of blinding) is used today in torture. It disorients. It exacerbates the fear. Makes them completely vulnerable and defenseless. It degrades. It is rightly called “torture.”

o Mark 14:64-65 … They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

4. The struck him with their fists.

o There is not always rationale given as to why they hit him. That is the nature of evil. It simply humiliates and is sheer / mere violence.

o Mark 14:64-65 … They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

5. They also slapped him.

o Slapping someone is a sign of derision and contempt. It, too, is intended to be humiliating and show one’s defenselessness.

o Matthew 26:67 -- Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him.

6. Plucked out his beard

o Isaiah 50:6 “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.”

7. The crowning of thorns

o John 19:2-3 “2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.”

8. Offered him a drink of sour wine