No Pain, No Gain A brief meditation on the Death of Jesus Holy Week 2001

“Pain” “Pain” of Crucifixion Mark: 15:24 Mark: 15:24 And they crucified him. Luke 23:33 Luke 23:33 There they crucified him John 19:18 John 19:18Here they crucified him Matt 27:35 Matt 27:35 After they crucified him

Other “painful” events in the death of Jesus CROWN of THORNS Matt 27:29 Set it on his head Mark 15:17 Set it on his head LukeNo reference John 19:2Set it on his head

Other “painful” events in the death of Jesus FLOGGING FLOGGING Matt 27:26 After having Jesus flogged Mark 15:15 After having Jesus flogged John 19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged Luke 23:22 I will punish him and then release him

One Simple Observation Each Gospel has only one verse describing Jesus’ actual crucifixion, and in each Gospel there is a silence regarding the physical violence done to Jesus.

Two Points of Biblical Focus 1. The Gospel writers are leading us away from Jesus’ physical pain Or else you might see the wrong enemy Or else you might minimize the work of Christ

Two Points of Biblical Focus 2. The Gospel writers are leading us toward Jesus’ shame Subtlety of Shame Horror of Shame