THE  SCOURGING  OF  JESUS.
I.  THOUGH  Pilate's  effort  to  save  Jesus  had  thus  far  proved
of  no  avail,  he  did  not,  on  that  account,  give  up  all  hope  of
ultimately  delivering  Him  from  the  hands  of  His  enemies.
As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  had  released  Barabbas  unto  the
Jews,  he  did  not  straightway  condemn  Our  Lord,  but
having  once  again  protested  that  he  found  in  Him  no  crime
worthy  of  death,  he  nevertheless  declared  himself  ready  to
enter  so  far  into  their  views  with  respect  to  Him,  as  to  give
Him  a  most  severe  correction,  and  then  set  Him  at  liberty.
Upon  this,  the  soldiers  led  Jesus  away  from  the  presence
of  the  Roman  Governor,  into  the  Pretorium.  There  they
stripped  Him  of  His  garments,  and,  having  bound  Him  to
a  pillar,  grasped  in  their  cruel  hands  the  much-dreaded
flagellum.  This  was  not  the  ordinary  virgae,  or  rods,  with
which,  according  to  Roman  law,  malefactors  were  usually
flogged.  Theflagellum  consisted  of  leathern  thongs  tipped
with  lead  or  with  iron.  To  be  struck  by  it,  was  looked  upon
as  the  lowest  degradation,  and  none  but  the  worst  criminals
were  ever  punished  in  this  way.  Nevertheless,  with  this
instrument,  and  by  the  hands  of  brawny  ruffians,  Our  Re
deemer  was  now  to  be  tortured.
Swinging  these  whips  over  their  heads,  they  brought
them  down  upon  the  virginal  flesh  of  Jesus,  with  all  the
might  of  their  muscular  arms.  Each  lash  left  upon  the
white,  delicate  skin  a  long  bloody  weal,  and,  as  the  fury
of  the  torturers  increased,  the  flesh  was  broken,  torn,  and,
in  places,  whipped  from  the  bones,  till  the  blood  ran  down
upon  the  pavement,  bespattered  the  walls,  and  crimsoned
the  hands  of  His  merciless  tormentors.
