Whole Roman cohort assembled

Roman governor Pilate, who usually resided in Caesarea, came up to Jerusalem only during the festival period. During his stay in Jerusalem, a part of the Antonia Fortress likely served as the official residence. Jesus’ trial took place outside the official residence because the Jews refused to enter to avoid ceremonial impurity. Once the verdict was pronounced, Jesus was brought inside the residence, where Roman soldiers subjected Him to further humiliation. (1) At this point, Jesus was already flogged. His back would have been torn like a pomegranate, with His blood dripping down. Also, as the whip wrapped around His body, His face and chest would likely have been torn as His back. (2) The governor’s soldiers gathered the entire cohort around Jesus. A Roman cohort typically consisted of about 600 soldiers. (3) They mocked Jesus based on the fact that He was accused of being a “king.” The “purple (scarlet) robe” was likely a crimson color close to royal purple. The “crown of thorns” and the “reed” were all intended to ridicule Jesus. (4) Finally, they spat on Him, took the reed, and struck Him on the head. The Roman soldiers, who often had trouble with the Jews, took out their frustration in this way.

The crown of thorns

Jesus’ head was already bleeding from the flogging, and they placed the “crown of thorns” on Him. The thorns likely penetrated even deeper into the wounds. The “crown of thorns” symbolizes the curse of Adam’s sin. In Genesis 3:18, it is written, “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you.” Jesus’ death was meant to remove the curse of Adam’s sin. During the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24). Today, let’s meditate on how much shame and pain the Lord Jesus endured to remove Adam’s sin and our sins. The soldiers knelt before Jesus in jest but let us kneel in faith and offer our thanks and worship to the Lord Jesus.