To Whom It May Concern: The Crucifixion and Redemption of Man

By Tara Gomes and Timothy Yarbrough

He saved us, He sacrificed His life for us. He Is the Savior of the world. This tells of the events which changed our destiny. The importance of these events must never be lost, this tale must be told, and thus I tell you now, Christ is our Savior.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387048328

Book preview

To Whom It May Concern: The Crucifixion and Redemption of Man

To Whom IT May Concern

Prologue

To make the suffering greater, and the damage more severe, small lead balls and shards of bone were sharpened and tied to the ends of each leather strip, causing it to violently tear open the flesh. The thongs cut deep into the tissue, producing first an oozing of blood, and then arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The balls of lead created large deep bruises which were broken open by the subsequent blows. The shards of bone sliced and tore at the flesh; the skin hung in long ribbons and was left as an unrecognizable heap of torn, bleeding tissue.

The whip kept lashing and lashing, violently tearing the flesh, the inner membranes spilling out leaving such a horrendous scene.   The scourge, or the flagrum was a short whip consisting of several heavy thongs used as a symbol of position and power - to administer punishment.  The heavy whip was brought down full force again and again across JESUS’ back, shoulders and legs. It cut deep into the subcutaneous fatty tissue causing an oozing of blood from smaller vessels. Finally, blood spurted from open arteries; the skin and muscles hung in long, quivering ribbons.

The inherent weight of the lead balls would be increased proportionally to the viciousness and strength of the individual scourger, and would cause ugly contusions of the skin driving the sharp bones deep in the flesh of the victim cutting more deeply into the underlying muscle tissue. The results would be horrific lacerations from the pieces of bone ripping through the flesh like miniature grapnels leaving a bloody mutilated backside of torn and hanging flesh. Pain was intolerable, blood loss was profuse causing hypovolemic shock, and the remaining part of the skin became cold, clammy, and with a bluish cast….Don Dedrick

The Roman garrison in Jerusalem, composed of the Roman 10th legion – soldiers that were not Roman citizens, AND known as the most brutal of all the Roman legions, were specialists assigned to carry out the scourging for the Roman government and excelled at their jobs. One executioner stood on either side of HIM, and JESUS’ entire body, front and back from HIS neck to HIS feet was covered with lashes. The two executioners alternately swung their whips with the force of their entire bodies. At each stroke, CHRIST’S body shook with an agonized shudder, but HE did not utter a word, and HIS silence redoubled the satanic rage of HIS executioners.

For the legionnaires administering the lashes – this was not only their job, but also a sport. Each would try to out-do the other in ripping skin and causing pain. At each stroke, CHRIST’S body shook with a heartbroken tremble. When they tired, a second and then a third team took control of this barbarous torture. Scourging was done before every crucifixion, and it was designed to more than weaken the victim. The iron balls would cause deep bruising while the leather thongs would cut deep into the skin….and was intended to bring a victim just short of death.

scorpion. The

The instrument used to deliver this form of punishment was called in Latin a flagellum or a flagrum. This was much different from the bull whip that is more common in our culture. It was instead more like the old British cat o’ nine tails, except that the flagellum was not designed merely to bruise, or leave welts on the victim. It was a much more torturous instrument…with several (three to nine) thongs or strands, each perhaps as much as three feet long, weighted with lead balls or pieces of bone embedded with bits of glass, stone or sharp bone attached near the ends. This instrument was designed to lacerate…being delivered without any compassion or consideration.

As the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissue, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead, bits of glass, and stone produced large, deep bruises and easily broke open the skin.

The long strands of the flagellum would wrap around the victim’s body and dig into the front and sides of the body. Then, when it was quickly pulled back, it would violently rip and tear the flesh off. Sometimes, in the process, a victim will have several ribs broken by the lead balls. Deep lacerations, torn flesh, exposed muscles and excessive bleeding – left the criminal half-dead. This probably did not happen with Jesus since it was prophesied that none of His bones would be broken. When it was determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner was near death, the beating was finally stopped.

After 45 minutes, when this brutal torture was completed, and CHRIST was nearly unconscious, they untied HIS hands and HE collapsed to the ground.  HIS open, bleeding wounds were contaminated with dust and dirt. CHRIST’S clothes were returned to HIM, and they then fashioned a crown of thorns for HIS head.  This was not part of the normal Crucifixion ritual.  One of the soldiers brought branches from a wild hawthorn bush with long, sharp, hard thorns.  Although depictions of CHRIST usually show the crown as a wreath placed around His forehead, investigations suggest that it was more likely shaped like the bottom of a basket and covered HIS entire scalp.  The thorns penetrated the skin, and were driven more and more deeply when He was repeatedly struck on the head.  Surgeons know that scalp wounds can bleed profusely.  Long streams of blood flowed down Our LORD’S forehead, through HIS tangled hair, into HIS beard and down HIS neck….crucifixion1.com

HE WAS OPPRESSED AND HE WAS AFFLICTED

YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH

HE WAS LED AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

AND AS A SHEEP BEFORE IT’S SHEARERS IS SILENT

SO HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH

ISAIAH 53:7

The church historian Eusebius of Caesarea recounts with vivid, horrible

detail a scene of scourging. He says, "For they say that the bystanders

were struck with amazement when they saw them lacerated with scourges

even to the innermost veins and arteries, so that the hidden inward parts

of the body, both their bowels and their members, were exposed to view."

(Ecclesiastical History, Book 4, chap. 15).

The half-fainting JESUS is then untied and

allowed to slump to the stone pavement,

Soaked with HIS own BLOOD…..

GOD.com

Isaiah 50:6 states, I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.

JUST AS THERE WERE MANY WHO WERE APPALLED AT HIM - HIS APPEARANCE WAS SO DISFIGURED BEYIND THAT OF ANY MAN AND HIS FORM MARRED BEYOND HUMAN LIKENESS…ISAIAH 52:14                                                       

JESUS WAS SEVERELY WHIPPED, BUT IT IS NOT IN THE GOSPELS….ONLY IMPLIED

1 PETER 2:24….

Who HIMSELF bore our sins in HIS own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness.

A detailed word study of Ancient Greek text for this verse indicates scourging to be particularly harsh.

There is an old tradition, however, that Pilate committed suicide on his return. The Christian author Eusebius, who tells the story, thinks that the former governor felt remorse for the execution of JESUS.

There are these words: At HIS coming the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerer shall be clear speaking: the blind shall see, and the lepers shall be cleansed; and the dead shall rise, and walk about.

And that he did those things, you can learn from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. PontiusPilatelivius.org

Let's forsake our sin.

Personal sin is born in the same place as what caused JESUS' death - our human heart.

Each time we sin we mock JESUS’ laws.

Every rebellious act of ours scourges CHRIST’S back.

THE SON OF MAN WILL JUDGE THE NATIONS

When the SON OF MAN comes in HIS glory, and all the holy angels with HIM, then HE will sit on the throne oh HIS glory.  All the nations will be gathered before HIM, and HE will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And HE will set the sheep on HIS right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on HIS right hand, ‘COME, YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD; I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU TOOK ME IN; I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME; I WAS SICK AND YOU VISITED ME; I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO ME.’

Then the righteous will answer HIM, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see YOU hungry and feed YOU, or thirsty and give YOU drink? When did we see YOU a stranger and take YOU in, or naked and clothe YOU? Or when did we see YOU sick, or in prison, and come to YOU? And the KING will answer and say to them, ‘ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME.’

Then HE will also say to those on the left hand, ‘DEPART FROM ME, YOU CURSED, INTO THE EVERLASTING FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME NO FOOD; I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME NO DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU DID NOT TAKE ME IN, NAKED AND YOU DID NOT CLOTHE ME; SICK AND IN PRISON AND YOU DID NOT VISIT ME.’

Then they also will answer HIM, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see YOU hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to YOU?’ Then HE will answer them, saying, ‘ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME.’ AND THESE WILL GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE.’

Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV

THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS

Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called The Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill HIM, for they feared the people.

Then satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray HIM to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray HIM to them in the absence of the multitude.

Luke 22:1-6

Now it came to pass, when JESUS had finished all these sayings, that HE said to His disciples, You know that after two days is the Passover, and the SON OF MAN will be delivered up to be crucified. Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take JESUS by trickery and kill HIM.  But they said, Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Matthew 26:1-5

The Council, or Sanhedrin consisted of:

∞Chief priests who were actually ex-high priests

∞Politically oriented Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection, or in angels

∞Religious legalists, known as the Pharisees

This strange group of differing beliefs banded together and agreed to get rid of JESUS. They did not question the signs or miracles of JESUS. Their concern was that many people were beginning to follow HIM.

Rather than denying the miracles they denied that JESUS was who HE claimed to be.

In the following verse they plot JESUS’ death.

If we let HIM alone like this, everyone will believe in HIM, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation John 11:48.

Totally lacking in Spiritual guidance, these people relied on history, and history had shown that all others claiming to be the MESSIAH had proven to be false.

The fear was that, if JESUS acquired a large following and became a political ruler or king, (which was against the Roman Law), that Rome would come down and squash the rebellion, and remove the authority of the council. This would bring instability into the Jewish government; which in turn would be a concern for the Roman government.

The Pharisees did not have the authority to crucify JESUS, so they tricked the Roman’s into doing it for them.

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish. John 11:49-50.

The term High Priest that year can be confusing. High priesthood was considered to be a lifelong office, and had never been reduced to an annual assignment. Caiaphas was high priest during A.D. 18-36.