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JESUS (6 of 8) AND PILATE

Gethsemane is where Jesus talked to God about being betrayed.

The disciples were short of physical stamina and slept while Jesus meditated and prayed.

At this time Jesus had never been more human, more sad, more afraid nor more weak.

He may even have cried a tear as guidance from His father He did seek.

His prayers continued then turned into a plea, asking God to remove this cup and bitter pill.

After all was said and done, Jesus said, “Yet not what I want, Father, but your will”.

Jesus said during His appearance with Pilate, while standing face to face;

“My kingdom is not of this world”. “My kingdom is from another place”.

When Jesus was finally taken away his hands were tied with rope.

Soon, with bloodshed, pain, and sorrow, Jesus will have to cope.

Now is the time for terrible punishment with bits of metal and bone at the end of a whip.

The executioner positions his feet for traction then uses dirt on his hands for a better grip.

The whip snaps noisily in the air sinking into Jesus’ flesh like snake fangs; splattering bits of flesh onto the floor.

With every jerk of the executioner’s arm spurts of splattering blood began to pour.

The flailing cord hits Jesus’ arms and neck as bloody tributaries of pain pool in His eyes.

Silent tears spill down His face yet there were no audible cries.

The hands that once reached out to lepers are now cuffed together very tight.

Like animals the soldiers salivate for fresh blood and soon over His garments, they will fight.

Jesus stood naked covered with blood. They laugh, and ridicule Jesus, and on a stool have Him sit down.

“Your throne is ready for you, Sir. Soon we will get you your crown.”

Jesus cannot see well. Being half-conscious made the light seem dim.

The room erupts with laughter as the stool is pulled from under him.

Amid the boisterous laughter blood runs from His nose as He lay on the floor prone.

For an instant His swollen head finds mercy on the floor’s coolness constructed of stone.

A rotten no good soldier offers Jesus a hand. Jesus can barely see with swollen eyelids and split lip.

Instead of a hand the man punches Jesus as His blood profusely continues to drip.

Jesus is handed a scepter made of reed and His crown made of thorn.

At His tormentors Jesus did not holler or curse. Never once wishing He had not been earth born.

Pilate said to the crowd, “Here is your King.” Jesus’ eyes were swollen and everything appeared dim.

Ignoring Jesus’ blood, bruises and broken heart, The crowd hollered, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate believed Jesus innocent and asked, “Shall I crucify your King?”

We have no ruler except for Caesar. Only to him our allegiance do we bring.

Richard E. Funnell