READ: Mark 15:16-20: Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, … And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him … spat on Him; and worshiped Him … had mocked Him, …. led Him out to crucify Him.
What the heathen soldiers do testifies not only to complete injustice but also to dehumanizing and hellish cruelty. Moreover, it involves Jesus, who is also their only Savior. He is not only the king of the Jews but the King of all kings, worthy of the worship of all people. They do it out of ignorance (Acts 3:17), but that does not justify it at all.
It is a devilish game played with Jesus as a continuation of the contempt He faced in the house of Caiaphas (14:65). It already reveals more of the hellish temptations that will further come upon Jesus.
Here, the Scripture is fulfilled, exposing what is in man and prophesying what Christ must endure to save humanity from its own sinfulness and from the devil’s hand (Ps. 22:6; Isa. 53:3,5,7,8,10).
Jesus had already informed His disciples about this in His third announcement: “They will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him …” (Mark 10:34).
Let us not only look at people’s actions but especially observe how Jesus reacts to this. He endures everything without a single complaint! He knows that He must suffer this. He knows that His Father makes Him undergo this. He was sent to earth for this—to become the true Sacrifice (Heb. 10:5).
Jesus mentioned this the day before in His prayer to the Father (John 17:4). Now, He is crushed by the Father, Isa. 53:10: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief.” Covered in wounds, He is brought to the place of His crucifixion.
Let us never forget: Jesus underwent all this because of our sins!
Why must Jesus be the “Sacrifice”?
Singing: Ps. 22:5