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.
Pilate thought he might make inroads with the Jews if he had Jesus flogged. John describes this event with three short verses. It is likely that those who first read John’s gospel were familiar with what was involved in a flogging. Today it depends on which part of the world you live in. Far too many people today know what a flogging means because they have seen it first hand. Far too few know what it means because they do not know their history. For brevity’s sake, let’s just say that flogging was a very bad thing. Especially a Roman flogging.
In addition to the flogging, the Roman soldiers thought they might have a little fun with the idea that Jesus was a king. After all the Jews were pushing the idea as if it were a fact, and the Governor was publicly mocking the idea.
To make the point more graphic, they put a wickedly sharp “crown” of thorns on Jesus’ head. I’m just guessing here, but it seems likely to me that the men who just spent a quarter of an hour whipping Jesus to within an inch of his life were none too gentle when they put it on.
Then they mocked Jesus. Then they slapped him.
It should be pointed out that they were not just mocking Jesus. They were also mocking the Jews. The Jews had claimed that Jesus was a threat because he claimed to be king of the Jews. The solders shredded the skin on Jesus’ back, bloodied his head with a ring of thorns, and put a robe on him. The idea that what was left of Jesus was either a king or a threat to Rome was laughable.
Application: Sometimes things that happen to us are not just about us. The Romans were likely mocking the Jews more than they were mocking Jesus. Jesus was being mocked, there is no doubt. Yet the larger point was Pilate’s effort to mock the Jews themselves. Sometimes it helps to realize that it is not about us. When we let go of our hurt in the moment and give it to God, we allow God’s will to be done. At the same time, we avoid being sucked into a vortex of bitterness and rage.
Food for Thought: It may be that Pilate thought flogging Jesus would help get him released. If this is the case how would that work?
Please click “Continue Reading” for comments.
Not well. I also think that this was an hour in which Satan held a lot of sway in the hearts of sinful men too willing to do his bidding. The good news is that this was all part of God’s plan for the salvation of people. But everything about the brutality of this scene smacks of Satan influencing men to become more and more wretched in their hatred and abuse.
I don’t mean to sound fatalistic, but I must agree with Rich. I believe…although I don’t think literally the scriptures state this (the closest is probably Isaiah 53)…that every tongue lashing, whip lashing, spitting, thorn piercing, slapping, nail driving, and all other abuses that Jesus experienced were necessary to satisfy the Father for the payment for the sins of mankind. At the end of the day, Pilate was going to have Jesus crucified. I don’t understand it all but am so grateful and indebted (bought with a price) to Him.
Thank you both for your comments! I would like to clarify that the ideas presented in the post, “Mocked” are in no way intended to diminish the price paid by our Lord for our redemption. The thread I am following here is the interaction of Pilate, the Jews, and Jesus. Pilate’s motivation in having Jesus flogged in no way diminishes our Lord’s suffering. My interest in Pilate’s motivation is simply to better understand the interaction that brings all of these events about. For me, understanding the human dynamics involved in these events help make the history of the event more real.
I think these are great comments JEC and Jeff. It is mind-boggling what Jesus had to go through. It is even more mind-boggling that He was willing to do so for sinful humanity. And I do find it a teachable moment to watch Pilate try to maneuver through the land mine that is political power grabs. It is interesting that the One who did not grasp for power was the only One worthy to have the power in the first place.
Jeff, I did not take your question as diminishing our Savior’s payment for us. I wish that I had better insight into the era and why a judge would have a man, in whom is found no fault, beaten. It appears to me as though this beating was “customary” prior to crucifixion, perhaps to take the fight out of the convicted to make it easier to pound the nails (this is just a thought of mine, as I find no text to back my theory.) It appears, however, that Pilate was hoping that this act would appease the mob so that they would agree to the release of Jesus.
Thank you both for the follow-up comments and the encouragement. For me, the greatest danger of posting anything at all about the Word of God is being misunderstood and confusing someone or in some way harming their faith. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my intent here. I hope and pray that the the exercise of working through these passages in a detailed manner deepens our understanding of what God’s love means for us. In addition, I hope that those who take at least three minutes with the Bible each day are blessed by turning their minds to the Word and opening the door to additional insights provided by the Holy Spirit.