Roman Scourge of the Passion

A Roman-style scourge lies isolated, its wrapped handle and dark braided lashes recalling the brutal instrument used in the Passion of Jesus Christ. The whip points directly to the Gospel accounts of Christ being flogged before the crucifixion, when Roman punishment became part of the suffering He endured on behalf of sinners. In Christian teaching, the scourge is more than a device of cruelty; it is a somber symbol of the Servant who was wounded, mocked, and handed over to death. This artwork serves well for Holy Week, Good Friday, Passion narratives, sermons on atonement, persecution, suffering, and the cost of redemption. by Jeff Preston