The Day they Spit on Jesus! Matthew 27:27-31

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Despite the fact that Jesus had never threatened violence or ever committed a violent act against anyone there were numerous soldiers assigend to guard him.  Some have said the soldiers were there to protect against a mob who might try to rescue Jesus.  Given the disciples' performance during Jesus' arrest, it was doubtful they posed any threat to the situation.  The term "Praetorium" is similar to our word "courthouse". 

Everything that was done to Jesus was to mock and humiliate him.  Everything they put on Jesus would have been fit for a king, but obviously they were meant to make fun of Jesus not honor him.  A king was given a scarlet robe because the color for scarlett could only be found in expensive dyes.  A crown was given to kings, but this crown of thorns only dug into Jesus' scalp and caused him to bleed.  The thorn bushes in this region were known to have long, sharp thorns.  

"Kings usually held a scepter in their hands, but Jesus has a staff that is also translated "reed". "Kings commonly carried a "sceptre," made of ivory or gold, as a sign of their office or rank, Esther 4:11; Esther 8:4. This "reed" or "staff" they put in his hand, in imitation of a "sceptre," to deride, also, his pretensions of being a king." Barnes

Finally, they mockingly gave Jesus false adoration chanting "Hail king of the Jews!" This was also to humiliate the Jewish people as if to say, "Is this the best you've got."  

"We can also decide to do the opposite of what these did to Jesus. “Oh, that we were half as inventive in devising honor for our King as these soldiers were in planning his dishonor! Let us offer to Christ the real homage that these men pretended to offer him.” (Spurgeon)

Their mocking gestures turned to cruelty, as they spit on him and struck him with the stick in his hands over and over.  Having had their fun with him, they took off the fake robe and put his ordinary clothes back on him.  After this, they led him away away in a public procession to crucify him.  The process of walking a criminal to the crucifixion site, was very public so as to be a deterrent to any other criminals.  

“The criminal was led to the scene of crucifixion by as long a route as possible, so that as many as possible might see him and take warning from the grim sight.” (Barclay)

What does this scene continue to reveal to us about the character of Jesus?  How do you react when people try to humiliate or mock you, or diminish the title you should have?  How was Jesus showing them what a true king looked like?  Do you think our leaders today in the church or world emulate the type of king Jesus gave us an example of?