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Context No. 2912 of 4322 · Mark

Context · Reflection

Mark 15:13-20: in context

13They cried out again, “Crucify him!” 14Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!” 15Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified. 16The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. 17They clothed him with purple; and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They struck his head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. 20When they had mocked him, they took the purple cloak off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.

This scene should be read slowly. The crowd cries, Crucify him, and Pilate, wanting to please them, releases Barabbas and hands Jesus over to be flogged and crucified. Then the soldiers take him inside, dress him in purple, twist together a crown of thorns and press it on his head, and hail him, King of the Jews, striking him, spitting on him, kneeling in mock homage.

The soldiers stage a cruel parody of a coronation, robe and crown and homage, meaning every bit of it as ridicule. And yet each thing they intend as mockery is, without their knowing, true. He is the King. The thorns are the curse he is bearing. The purple belongs to the one who truly reigns. They spit on the King of glory and think it a joke. And he endures it in silence, the Lord of all letting himself be mocked by the very men he came to save.

Do I see, in the King the soldiers mocked, the one who bore even their scorn in order to save them, and me?

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