6 norman thomas

John 19:1 – 3
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

The High Priest and Sanhedrin sent Jesus to Pilate because they lacked the authority to put him to death. Pilate could find no fault in Jesus and tried his best to release him. Many think Pilate had Jesus scourged in an effort to satisfy the High Priest and other Jewish official, where in fact according to Roman custom, scourging was a precursor to being crucified. Scourging consisted of thirty-nine lashes with a multi-tailed whip in which lead or glass was imbedded. Scourging the person was intended to open their back and weaken them prior to being crucified.

In my artwork Christ has been scourged and is preparing to be taken from the Praetorium to be brought back to Pilate. The crown of thorns is on his head and the robe is at his feet. The post where he would have been tied while being scourged is in front of him. Jesus is looking past all of this towards his Father’s vast house contemplating what is about to happen to him.