. . .the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJ)
When Jesus said, “remember my body which was broken for you”, He is talking about the scourging He took the night before He was crucified. Let’s take a look at what took place there and see His amazing demonstration of love.
First, Jesus was stretched out and tied to a column or whipping post. Then at least two men, each with a whip, stood ready to begin the scourging. The whip was made either of leather or rope tied in knots with 9 extensions. At the end of one extension was a piece of sharp metal. Another one had broken glass with jagged edges or a sharp point and another had sharp pieces of bone. Each had something that was meant to tear the skin. As soon as one man threw his whip onto Jesus’ back and pulled away, the second man cracked his whip across His back and pulled away. The action was continuous without a break in between.
This is known to be one of the most excruciating punishments you can have. It destroys one’s flesh. Jesus’ flesh and muscles were so torn that his bones were exposed (Psalm 22:17). Because the whip with the extensions flayed his body, even his face, He was unrecognizable as a human. Yet, Jesus willingly took this scourging.
Why? The Bible says He endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). What was the joy? It was knowing that His sacrifice would set you free. That is Agape, love with no boundaries. There are no words to describe that kind of love.
Each crack of the whip that fell across His back and tore His body was for you. Jesus took those stripes so you could be delivered from darkness. He said to eat His body, the bread, remembering why He took the beating and receive your inheritance.
Not only did Jesus suffer physically for you so that you could be set free from sickness, disease, affliction, pain and addictions, He also endured shame, humiliation, condemnation, guilt and more in His soul (emotions). There is no emotion you have suffered that He did not suffer.
A God who loves you and me that much will never fail us. The great I AM, the Creator, chose not to wipe us off the map when we sinned. Instead, He chose to take care of sin by becoming a human, leaving His godly qualities, and living as we live. He, Himself, redeemed us. No matter what you are facing, He is with you. Remember what He did for you.
“Rejoice! This is the day the Lord has made.”
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