We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate’s hand . . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard . . . and then Herod’s men . . . and then by the Roman soldiers, giving His+ back to the smiters and His+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.
This series of Lenten / Passover Meditations will reflect the 3rd Hour Prayer ( 9 a.m. ) Station observed by the Early Christians. Today, many liturgical churches continue to observe these ancient prayer hours. They were based upon the prayer hours in the Temple in Jerusalem.The Morning Prayer came at the time of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple, the very time that The LORD JESUS was nailed to the Cross.
3RD HOUR MORNING PRAYER
Heavenly FATHER, we come before YOU at this 3rd hour of the ancient day, the hour of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple . . . that same hour that Your Beloved SON+, the LAMB+ of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world, was offered up on the Cross for our sakes.
We thank YOU for the Great Drops of BLOOD HE+ shed in the garden of Gethsemane, after praying all through the night . . . then facing the men who had come with swords and clubs to violently take HIM+.
Thank YOU, O Holy FATHER, that Your Beloved SON+, as the perfect SON+ of GOD, revealed Your power, saying “ I AM,” causing the armed band of men to go backward and fall to the ground .
Yet, HE+ did not use this great power for HIMSELF+, revealing HIMSELF+ to be the obedient and perfect SON+ of Man . . . still loving His+ disciples to the uttermost, HE+ requested the armed men to “Let them go,” and thus, His+ frightened disciples could flee away.
For the humiliation HE+ endured for our sakes, we give YOU thanks . . . and also, for the answers that HE+ gave to those who accused HIM+ wrongfully.
Heavenly FATHER, we thank YOU for the times HE+ gave no answer at all to His+ accusers, as a Lamb led to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is silent.
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We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate’s hand . . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard . . . and then Herod’s men . . . and then by the Roman soldiers, giving His+ back to the smiters and His+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.
+ + +
The UNjust Scourging. Pilate knew better. The Governor of Judea himself proclaimed the innocency of The LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Thus , WHY did he issue the order for JESUS to be scourged . . . and not the High Priest and the Pharisees, the fomenters of the Passover agitation in Jerusalem ?
Normal Roman government should have required Roman judgment upon the ones agitating the large Passover crowd to violence and civil disorder.
Consistently, that was the method of subjugating conquered peoples. The Romans were ruthless: They would snatch up ANYONE in the vicinity to apply their cruel methods of putting down civil disorder.
Pilate had the good sense to realize that JESUS was a Righteous Man who had NOT caused the disorder. The Governor also realized that the religious Jews were jealous of HIM+, for the common people listened to The LORD JESUS.
So, why did that relatively sensible Governor knowingly have the wrong man scourged ?
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Luke 23:13
Said unto them, Ye have brought THIS MAN+ unto me, as one that perverteth the people:
and, behold, I, having examined HIM+ before you, have found no fault in THIS MAN+ touching those things whereof ye accuse HIM+: Luke 23:14
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him ; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto HIM+. Luke 23:15
I will therefore chastise HIM+, and release HIM+. Luke 23:16
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WHY didn’t Governor Pilate continue to HOLD to his own discernment, his own right decision, and his own words to the Chief Priests, the rulers, and the people ?
Could it have been fear ? FEAR perverts justice. The satan manipulates people in high places and low through fear as they choose to “protect self” instead of doing what they KNOW is right to do.
Thus, The LORD JESUS CHRIST, was subjected to bad treatment by three sets of soldiers
… By the Temple Guard: Matthew 26:67
… By Herod’s men : Luke 23:11
… By the Roman Soldiers: Matthew 27:27 -30
BEFORE HE+ was scourged
BEFORE HE+ had to carry the crossbeam to Golgotha
BEFORE HE+ was nailed to the Cross.
HE+ bore it all for me . . . for you.
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