Daily Devotions

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. (John 19:1)

I have the hardest time thinking of this scene. It was bloody, and it was brutal; people could die under this punishment. When Romans flogged a person, they used a whip with many lashes, with bits of bone and metal attached to the ends. Jewish law limited the number of strokes a person could receive;—but not Roman law; the only guideline was basically, “Don’t kill the prisoner; keep him alive for the cross.”
Jesus bore this for me.

He bore this for you, too;—and He thought it was well worthwhile. Because hard as it is to believe, we are His joy. We are the prize He thought it was worth suffering for;—the people He desired to have with Him forever, as He said to God the Father on the night before His death (see Hebrews 12:2; John 17:24).

Jesus doesn’t regret the price He paid for us. Even though He still carries the scars of this flogging, they are His glory;—for they testify to how much He loves us, how far He went to have us;—and we know, absolutely, that He will get what He wants in the end.

And we will rejoice with Him forever.

WE PRAY: Lord, I love You. Bring me safely home to You in the end. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* Do you have trouble coping with the details of Jesus’ suffering?

* When have you suffered, even a little, for someone you loved?

* Was it worth it? Why?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Archive

All | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |

Large Print