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The Scourging at the Pillar
Scripture
"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they struck him repeatedly."
John 19:1-3
"I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting."
Isaiah 50:6
Meditation
After Pilate ordered His scourging, Jesus was stripped and tied to a pillar where Roman soldiers ruthlessly beat Him with whips. These whips, often fitted with pieces of bone or metal, tore at His flesh, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that "by His stripes we are healed."
In this brutal punishment, Jesus silently endured immense physical pain. He accepted this suffering willingly as part of the price for our redemption, showing the depth of His love for humanity.
The scourging reminds us of the serious nature of sin and the great cost of our salvation. Christ's wounds also reveal God's infinite mercy, as He bears in His body the punishment that should have been ours.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond to physical or emotional pain in my life? Do I unite my suffering with Christ's?
- Do I truly understand the serious nature of sin and its consequences?
- How can Christ's patient endurance of the scourging inspire me to greater patience in my own trials?
- Am I mindful of how my sins contribute to Christ's suffering?
Fruit of the Mystery
The spiritual fruits of this mystery are:
- Mortification - Willingness to sacrifice and discipline our bodily desires
- Purity - Cleansing of sin and purification of heart and mind
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you endured the painful scourging at the pillar with perfect patience and love. Through your wounds, grant me healing from my sinful attachments and the grace to practice mortification in my daily life. Help me to recognize the seriousness of sin and to seek purification through the sacraments. May I learn to accept suffering with patience and to unite my own trials with yours for the salvation of souls. Amen.
Art and Tradition
The Scourging at the Pillar has been vividly depicted in Christian art throughout the centuries. Artists often show Jesus bound to a column while soldiers inflict the brutal punishment. These depictions serve as powerful reminders of Christ's suffering for our salvation.
Tradition suggests that Jesus received 39 lashes, the maximum permitted under Jewish law. However, the Romans had no such limitations, and the scourging was likely even more severe. Many mystics and saints have meditated deeply on this mystery, including St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Catherine of Siena, receiving special insights into Christ's suffering.