Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified …
John 19:1-5, Matthew 20:18-19a
Questions
What brings on our mockery?
Why do you think they mocked Jesus?
Why are we attracted to watching a beating?
Meditation
For what were the whip and crown made? In this station, we have the juxtaposition of a whip known as the “Cat of Nine Tails” and a crown made out of thorns. What was the desired byproduct of these devices?
It’s to dehumanize … to inflict pain … to diminish His human dignity … to mock Him and His ways.
What brings on our mockery?
Most reasons for mockery are because one may feel insecure. Rather than face insecurity, mockery helps make the feeling of insecurity less noticeable. It may even help someone feel more self-assured and confident because they feel like they have the upper hand. How often do we mock others when it really is about our own insecurity?
Maybe it was on social media … or by snide remarks we make under our breath.
Jesus partook in being mocked, and He understands when we are being mocked.
Jesus understands when we are mocked. He stands beside us. But imagine … Christ standing with someone you have mocked. He loves the whole world – even the soldiers that beat and mocked Him.
I bet those Roman soldiers beat Him and may not have understood He was sacrificing Himself for those sins too.
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me patience that I might praise You in difficult times.