Written ~ 02-28-2024
Read Mark Chapter Fifteen
Mark 15
In this chapter we go through the trial of Jesus before Pilate, we see Him being mocked and lead away to be crucified. At the hour of His death we hear Him calling out to the Father, then after death His body is prepared for burial.
This whole chapter can be quite solemn IF this were the end of the story.
But today we are going to look at verses 15:16-20…
16 “The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed Him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head. 18 Then they saluted Him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck Him on the head with a reed stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”
This scene takes place right after Jesus had been flogged with a lead tipped whip, He would have been extremely weak and bloodied from that assault. The soldiers to whom He was turned over to were just cruel. There’s really no other explanation besides that description of them. In verse 15:16 it says, “The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard… and called out the entire regiment…” In one commentary I was reading it said this entire regiment consisted of “auxiliary troops Pilate had brought up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. They were non-Jews recruited from Palestine and other parts of the empire. Mark says the whole regiment took part in their perverted humor.”
When Jesus was turned over to these perverted and irreverent soldiers, their mocking shows us a whole new disgusting display of evil. They made Jesus the butt end of a joke without relent. Look closely at what they did to the Messiah as they poked fun at who He claimed to be… “The King of the Jews”…
- They dressed Him in a Purple Robe
- They placed a Crown of Thorns on His head
- They saluted Him in mockery and taunted Him
- They struck His head repeatedly
- They spit on Him
- They dropped to their knees in Mock Worship
All the while, Jesus said nothing. He did not try to defend Himself. Our Messiah was the sacrificial lamb. His purpose for coming to earth was for this very thing to happen to Him.
Recall what we learned in chapter 14 verses 32-42 where we see Jesus praying in anguish, asking the Father to take this cup of suffering away from Him. Although He was deeply troubled and distressed, He wanted the Father’s Will to be done, not His own.
After the ridicule, the jeering and the treatment of utter contempt, Jesus would be led to the place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The soldiers would continue their relentless mocking as they nailed Him to the cross.
When Jesus died on that cross, some in the crowd were happy to finally be rid of this “teacher,” this self-proclaimed “Messiah.” But there were many others in the crowd, followers of Jesus, who were heart broken by what they were witnessing. Their anguish would have been inconsolable.
What I want you and I to reflect on is a matter of the heart. As believers we may read this passage and be considerably disturbed by all we see Jesus having to go through for us. We know, because we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, that He was put through this suffering in order to free us from sin and death. Our hearts rejoice because we know what comes next.
But what if you are reading this Scripture passage and agree with the soldiers who tortured Jesus and mocked Him? Maybe you haven’t given it much thought as to why Jesus would need to die on the cross. My prayer is that your hearts would be open to what the Scriptures are saying about this man Jesus. He is the Son of God, He is the Savior of the world. He came to earth with the purpose of redeeming us from sin and death. Now it is our choice to accept what He did on that cross, to believe in who He is and receive the free gift of Salvation.
If by chance, you have not given your heart and life over to the Lord, make that decision today. Here is a simple prayer of salvation… make it your hearts cry to make Him Lord of your life today…
- Dear Jesus, You know my heart, all the things I have done and said. Please forgive me for my unbelief. Please forgive me for all of my sins. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead to give me freedom from sin and death. By faith through believing in Who You Are, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, cleanse this heart of mine, white as snow. Help me not to doubt any longer and breathe life into me, fill me with Your light. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
If you solemnly prayed this prayer, tell at least one person, so they can share in your joy!! I rejoice with you! All the angels in Heaven rejoice with you!
It is very important to me that those who might be reading these journal pages of mine and don’t yet know the Lord Jesus Christ, that you make that decision. Today. Your heart and mind may not understand everything you have been reading, but if you open your heart to the truth of who Jesus is, you will be saved from sin and death. By the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be amazed at how quickly after giving your heart to the Lord your eyes and ears will be opened to the truth.
~AMEN~