Jesus was Tortured

Most of us know well the events surrounding the death of Jesus, as recalled every Easter or depicted on film in all its gory glory in the Passion of the Christ. But rarely do we take time to name what happened to Jesus what it is. On the day he was executed, after the sentence was given by Pilate, the soldiers accompanying Jesus beat him with a staff, spit on him, crowned him with thorns, and mocked him (Mark 15:16-20). This treatment was intended for no other purpose than to humiliate and cause pain to someone who was convicted and sentenced to death. Even if the death sentence proceeded from a fair trial (which I noted yesterday it did not), this treatment was not ordered by Pilate as a consequence of the sentence delivered. This was pure gratuitous violence delivered for the sake of causing pain, not meting out justice. What Pilate did command is execution, but here the means of killing Christ should not be ignored. Throughout history and today, many death sentences are carried out by guillotine, electric chair, or lethal injection with the intention of ending the life of the condemned as quickly and painlessly as possible. Jesus was crucified, and the cross was intended to prolong death and increase suffering as much as possible. Roman citizens were usually exempt from crucifixion because it was viewed as too cruel, but those who were not citizens were crucified. Pain, humiliation, and suffering were the objective. We must name this what it is: torture. Jesus was tortured.

Jesus was a victim who was tortured. He was also God in the flesh, Lord, and Savior.