Pilate then had Jesus flogged. Afterward, the soldiers took him into the courtyard of the palace and gathered the whole cohort around him. They clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. They put a reed into his right hand, knelt before him and mocked him, saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him, took the reed and struck him on the head. Then they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. (Isaiah 50.6)
"Behold the Bread of Life, broken and given to you as your food. If you
would be my follower, you too must be broken so you can be given to your
brothers and sisters. Nothing is gained without suffering."
The Roman soldiers are now in control of Jesus. They do not stop until all
dignity and strength is beaten and tortured out of him. They revel in
their control and power over him. Those who have no control or peace in
their own life unleash their anger onto others. The very presence of
Jesus, his innocence and holiness, represents a threat somehow which must be
stamped out. Crushed under foot. Our consciences lie bare and open
before him so we must shut him out and shut him down.
We have not heard the last from mocking, sneering men who abuse the Christ. "In
the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and
saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors
died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!'
They deliberately ignore this fact...that the world of that time was deluged
with water and perished. The present heavens and earth have been reserved
for fire. Regard the patience of the Lord as salvation." (2 Peter 3.3-15)