Matthew 27:27-31, Jesus is Handed Over to be Mocked

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Comments

These soldiers consisted of Gentiles from the surrounding areas who would love to get their sadistic hands on a “Jewish King.” They served as a mock honor guard, who placed a soldier’s red cape that parodied the emperor’s purple robe, a royal crown of thorns, and a royal reed scepter. While the scene degenerated into physical abuse with hitting and spitting, it began as mockery rather than torture. Jesus had already been severely tortured. Normally a person was naked when crucified, but perhaps having Jesus in his own clothes conceded to Jewish sensibilities.

Prayer

Christ, I see thy crown of thorns in every eye, thy bleeding, wounded naked body in every soul; thy death liveth in every memory; thy wounded body is embalmed in every affection; thy pierced feet are bathed in everyone’s tears; and it is my privilege to enter with thee into every soul.

Thomas Traherne, 1636-1674