John 19:2-5, A Crown of Thorns and the Purple Robe

2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

Having received a severe flogging that would have left his back with gaping wounds and likely some broken bones, now Jesus is subjected to humiliation by what was probably a large group of Roman soldiers. They have the “king of the Jews” to play with, so they make him a crown of thorns. The mock crown was most likely made from the date palm, These have thorns up to twelve inches in length, which when pushed into Jesus’ head caused blood to run down his face. Then they fashioned a “dress up” robe for him, probably from an old purple sheet—purple being the color of royalty. Matthew and Mark record that they gave him a reed as a scepter.

The call of “Hail, King of the Jews!” was a parody of “Hail, Caesar!” used to honor the Roman Emperor. These soldiers, who most likely hated the Jews and being stationed in Jerusalem, had the opportunity to take out their personal frustrations on an undeserving man. It is amazing what a group of people can do to another human being when a mob-mentality takes over, and this is exactly what happened to Jesus as they hit him and spat upon him. God incarnate has become the laughing-stock of cruel, sinful men.

Having finished torturing Jesus, they returned him to Pilate, who delivered his verdict: “I find no guilt in him.” Pilate speaks the truth, but one would never know he actually believes this after having Jesus tortured just short of the point of death. He displays the bloody king saying, “Here is the man!” Was he hoping for pity from the crowed or that the Jewish leaders would now be satisfied? Could he avoid giving the innocent Jesus the death penalty? Pilate puts the life of Jesus back into the hands of those who have accused him of blasphemy, of thinking of himself as one with God the Father.

O Jesus, poor and abject, unknown and despised, have mercy upon me, and let me not be ashamed to follow thee.

        O Jesus, hated, calumniated, and persecuted, have mercy upon me, and make me content to be as my master.

        O Jesus, blasphemed, accused, and wrongfully condemned, have mercy upon me, and teach me to endure the contradiction of sinners.

        O Jesus, clothed with a habit of reproach and shame, have mercy upon me, and let me not seek my own glory.

        O Jesus, insulted, mocked, and spit upon, have mercy upon me, and let me not faint in the fiery trial.

        O Jesus, crowned with thorns and hailed in derision;

        O Jesus, burdened with our sins and the curses of the people;

        O Jesus, affronted, outraged, buffeted, overwhelmed with injuries, griefs and humiliations;

        O Jesus, hanging on the accursed tree, bowing the head, giving up the ghost, have mercy upon me, and conform my whole soul to thy holy, humble, suffering Spirit.

John Wesley, 1703-1791