The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Reflection:
Here we see the stark contrast in the abusive treatment he received as heinous criminal, as juxtaposed against the worship he should have received as the King of kings. Note the following:
1. They put a purple robe on him in mockery of the royal robe he would have worn in honor. So we should be careful not to focus on adorning ourselves with finery.
2. Instead of a crown for a King, they put together a crown of thorns that not only mocked him but also shot pain through his forehead. If we be afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, may we know Jesus is well acquainted with thorns.
3. Finally, they derided him making a parody by hailing him as the "King of the Jews". Usually kings were acclaimed by their subjects but Jesus was taunted.
4. If that was enough, they took a staff, a scepter used for royalty and a tool for the Good Shepherd, and they beat him with it mercilessly. Subjects when they swear alliance kiss the King and bow down, but instead of a kiss they spat on him.
5. As the Magi had kneeled down and worshipped him with gold, frankincense and myrrh as a foreshadowing of the coming King, these men fell down in jest and continued to make fun of him.
So we see as much as the cross was the most painful possible way a person could die and inflicted unbelievable amounts of physical pain, so Jesus began his journey to the cross with such a heap of shame and humiliation. Such was the depth Jesus had sunk, not counting equality with God as something to be grasped, but he emptied himself and became a servant unto death. We see here that Jesus had completely given up his rights and he allowed them to do whatever they wanted to him, even though he could have called done a legion of angels at any time.
So what can we make of this? How do we mock Jesus by taking his cross and our sin so lightly? How can what he did for us proving His love for us, translate into our giving up our rights and serving others? These are questions in lieu of what we read today that would be worthy of our meditation with an eye toward application in our lives as Jesus' followers.
Reflection:
Here we see the stark contrast in the abusive treatment he received as heinous criminal, as juxtaposed against the worship he should have received as the King of kings. Note the following:
1. They put a purple robe on him in mockery of the royal robe he would have worn in honor. So we should be careful not to focus on adorning ourselves with finery.
2. Instead of a crown for a King, they put together a crown of thorns that not only mocked him but also shot pain through his forehead. If we be afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, may we know Jesus is well acquainted with thorns.
3. Finally, they derided him making a parody by hailing him as the "King of the Jews". Usually kings were acclaimed by their subjects but Jesus was taunted.
4. If that was enough, they took a staff, a scepter used for royalty and a tool for the Good Shepherd, and they beat him with it mercilessly. Subjects when they swear alliance kiss the King and bow down, but instead of a kiss they spat on him.
5. As the Magi had kneeled down and worshipped him with gold, frankincense and myrrh as a foreshadowing of the coming King, these men fell down in jest and continued to make fun of him.
So we see as much as the cross was the most painful possible way a person could die and inflicted unbelievable amounts of physical pain, so Jesus began his journey to the cross with such a heap of shame and humiliation. Such was the depth Jesus had sunk, not counting equality with God as something to be grasped, but he emptied himself and became a servant unto death. We see here that Jesus had completely given up his rights and he allowed them to do whatever they wanted to him, even though he could have called done a legion of angels at any time.
So what can we make of this? How do we mock Jesus by taking his cross and our sin so lightly? How can what he did for us proving His love for us, translate into our giving up our rights and serving others? These are questions in lieu of what we read today that would be worthy of our meditation with an eye toward application in our lives as Jesus' followers.
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