Sermon Tone Analysis

If this was a seince in the movie, it would be R-Rated for volience.

What we see happening here is beyond belief.

With the simple phrase, Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.

A series of terrifing and horrific events were put in motion.

Pilate would have handed Jesus over to the Lictor.

This person was a master of inflicting pain and suffering.

General Klap in a James Bond book.

It was said that Rosa Klebb would let no torturing take place without her.

There was a blood-spattered smock in her office, and a low camp-stool, and they said that when she was seen scurrying through the basement passages dressed in the smock and with the stool in her hand, the word would go round, and even the workers in SMERSH would hush their words and bend low over their papers – perhaps even cross their fingers in their pockets – until she was reported back in her room

Just like Gerenal Klap, the lictors, enjoyed their work.

They had made the suffering of other an art form.

the flogging

the pause

the humiliation

Some believe Pilate hoped the flogging would satisfy the blood lust the Jewish leaders.

Seeing Jesus broken, bleeding, near death, would appeal to their humanity.

But no.

They were more determined then ever to see him dead.

But the bloodthirsty chief priests and officials responded: “Crucify him!

Crucify him!”

NRSV That they demanded crucifixion reveals their intense hatred of Jesus.

Crucifixion was a shameful death reserved for criminals, slaves, and rebels.

Jesus was none of these, and Pilate knew it.

But the Jewish enemies of Christ wanted not only to kill him but also to discredit and humiliate him thoroughly.

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid.

NIV Pilate’s fear may have had its origin in a combination of three factors:

1. Romans were inclined to believe in human deities; so Pilate may have sensed that the man in his presence was a god.

2. According to , Pilate’s wife may have influenced his thoughts about Jesus, for she had had a troublesome dream, and had sent word to Pilate: “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him” (NKJV).

3. Pilate may well have been concerned that a riot was about to break out among the Jews.

Hatred for Romans and the extremely crowded conditions in Jerusalem created a powder keg of unrest that needed only a good spark to become explosive.

Barton, Bruce B. John.

Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993.

Print.

Life Application Bible Commentary.

Barton, Bruce B. John.

Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993.

Print.

Life Application Bible Commentary.

They gave the cross, then, to Simon of the city of Cyrene, who had also two sons by the name of Alexander and Rufus.2

They did this not because they pitied Jesus, and wished to lighten his load, but be-cause they ever more eagerly wanted to put him to death speedily.

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS 10.1.3

Song must Jesus bear the cross alone

Must Jesus bear this cross alone

And all this world go free?

There's the cross for everyone

And the the cross for me