Christ’s 39
Stripes
Among the stories that are
accepted as true within Christianity is the story of Christ Jesus’ 39 stripes
during His scourging at the hands of Roman soldiers.
I do not have the foggiest
idea where the tale began. But it comes from
the fact that Jews could only beat other Jews 39 times with a whip or
lash. However, Christ was not scourged
by other Jews. Is scourging took place
at the hands of sadistic Roman soldiers.
2 Corinthians 11:24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. (NKJ)
On five occasions Paul was beaten by Jews with 39 stripes, and
although it was harsh, it was survivable. The Jewish leadership set out to Kill
Jesus!
Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; (NKJ)
The fact is that Jesus was
beaten beyond all reason. He was beaten
beyond recognition.
Isaiah 53:6b
and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(NKJ)
The LORD laid on Him the
iniquity of us ALL!
Do you have any idea what
that means?
He was scourged in our
place. Christ Jesus was taken to the
Roman commander of the Judean district by totally corrupt Jewish leaders an
there they asked the He be condemned to death.
They acted out of jealousy and distain for God the Father. The Son of God, The Jewish Messiah was beaten
hardheartedly for their sins, which were great!
You may be thinking that I am
anti-Semitic. But that is a spiritual
fact.
1 Peter 2:24
[Christ Jesus] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live for righteousness-- by whose stripes you were
healed. (NKJ)
“Stripes” (Gr. mooloopi-mwlwpi) is SINGULAR! The Greek language requires so much accuracy
that if two wounds had been visible the plural would be necessary. But, Christ
was beaten so ruthlessly that only one wound was visible and it covered His
entire body.
39 stripes is not only
incorrect, it would be laughable---if it were not so tragic.
The men who teach the story
of just 39 stripes have no idea, no concept of the
torturous scourging of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, nor do they appreciate
the extent of His suffering for OUR
sins.
I will not go into the full
story of His scourging, but I will say that it went far beyond any human effort
to endure. It took God the Son to endure
the torture of the