The Beating
The crucifixion of Jesus began with a beating – a scourging of unbelievable intensity. The purpose of scourging was to weaken the body in preparation for actual crucifixion. The intensity of the beating was dependent on the particular mood and disposition of those charged with performing it. In the beating and scourging of Jesus, scripture indicates he received a particularly harsh and extended beating. He was almost beaten to the point of death. Crucifixion was a long process and would have been even longer without scourging to weaken the victim. Jesus’ actual time on the cross was evidently shorter than what would be normally expected and it may have been the result of the extreme beating he received in the scourging phase of the execution. The important thing to remember is that the beating was administered in preparation for death.
When we consider the crucifixion of self-will, how does the beating of Jesus relate to the process we must experience? It is easy to make the connection when we consider the consequences of our sin and the results they produce in our lives. When self-will is rampant in the life of a person it produces spiritual disaster and the effect is much the same as a beating. There are beatings we receive from the results of addiction. They are beatings that accompany divorce. There are beatings that accompany anger and resentment. There are negative spiritual consequences that follow every human activity that is not consistent with God’s will and His truth.
The beatings we experience as the result of our sin should be indicators for us that something about our spiritual condition is corrupt. God allows us to experience these spiritual beatings so that we might come to the end of ourselves and begin to allow him to work in and through us so that we will be conformed to the image of Christ. The scourging of Jesus was designed to weaken His body in preparation for death. The beatings we experience as the result of sin produce the same effect – weakening of the flesh so that we may die to it.
The beatings we receive as the result of our sin come in many forms, but there are four broad categories that are most prevalent: Broken Relationships, Addiction, Depression and Anger. These fruits of sin should serve as danger signals for believers because if any or all of these fruits exist in the life of a believer they are the result of a rebellious self-will living independently of God. These fruits of sin produce the spiritual beatings we are allowed to experience and the beatings will continue until we surrender to God’s great purpose, which is to conform us into the image of Christ. These spiritual beatings are administered and allowed by God to bring us to the end of ourselves. In the same way Christ was beaten in preparation for his execution, our spiritual beatings prepare us for the death of self.
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