The Whipping Stone

Mat 27:26 Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified. GNB

Roman torture was horrendous. When Pilate ordered Jesus to be whipped, the Roman soldiers did not use an ordinary whip. The whip used to flog and stripe the body of our Lord and Savior was a lead-tipped whip. This whip would rip and tear open the flesh leaving a gaping and bleeding wound.

The whipping stone you see in this picture is found in the Ancient City of Corinth, which we visited a few days ago. This stone is very similar to the one which Jesus was chained. I thought the stone was beautiful with its precise carvings and craftsmanship. As our tour guide informed us what the stone was used for, its beauty instantly turned to ashes.

Last week we celebrated July 4th. Even though we are thousands of miles from our family, we were thankful for friends and even 3 team members from Cameron, Missouri who were in our home to celebrate the holiday with us.

July 4th brings back memories of picnics with hot dogs, grilled burgers, baked beans, cold sodas, family, friends, songs about the Stars and the Stripes and most importantly our FREEDOM.

As children of God, let us never forget that Jesus Christ's stripes taken from a lead-tipped whip before he was lead away by the Roman soldiers to be crucified, bought our FREEDOM.

I pray that we would have a deeper desire to share our faith with the lost world around us. Share the good news with some one about how they too can experience, enjoy and live in the same eternal spiritual freedom that we have. Do it today, tomorrow may never come!

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.