John 19:1-11

John 19:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Some people try and explain away the crucifixion by saying that Jesus was only kind of dead on the cross, and that he woke up later in the tomb, somehow pushed the rock away, and then wandered out.  This theory conveniently forgets the fact that he was flogged beforehand, a practice that sometimes killed the one being flogged.  If Jesus had managed to survive being flogged and then crucified, I doubt he would have cut a very inspiring figure that would have led his disciples to go to their deaths claiming he had been raised from the dead.  He probably would have looked like something the cat dragged in and spent weeks, if not months, recovering.  A nice walk to Emmaus probably would have been out of the picture.
  The events leading up to the crucifixion were filled with brutality.  Jesus was beaten and then rejected by those he came to save.  The physical and emotional pain would have been immense with every passing second, all the while knowing that the worst, separation from God, was still to come.
  And yet he endured it all for you, for me.  Jesus did it out of love, love that is hard to fathom, but it was done with you in mind.  May the reality of Jesus' dedication to your salvation amaze you today!