Mark 15:15-2215And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. 16And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 21And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. 22And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. (Mark 15:15‑22)
“AND SO Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” v. 15.
The hearts of the people are well expressed when Barabbas, a murderer, is chosen in preference to their rightful and true King. Now, as though He were a condemned criminal, Jesus is scourged with a cruel lash and then turned over to the whims of not only Pilate’s private soldiers (as before), but to the whole band of common soldiers—a ruthless lot of men who often chose this employment as an outlet for their brutality. They heap numerous indignities upon His holy Person. At their hands, he is clothed temporarily in purple; a piercing crown of thorns placed on His head. They smite Him; spit upon Him; and bow their knees in mock worship. Taunts and insults are added to all this. But little did they realize the Person of the One they were thus humiliating, nor did they have any awareness that if He had not submitted willingly, He could have stricken them at any moment. They were aware that the worst they could do would be approved by the Jews and that their own Roman authorities would not interfere. Thus their evil acts were unrestrained.
Yet in all this, the Lord opened not His mouth. Not one complaint passed His lips, nor one cry for mercy. He was the willing offering for the sins of His people and spared Himself no anguish of suffering so that He might answer all God’s requirements as to full atonement through His work and death, entirely alone. How perfectly it is expressed: “Christ also suffered for us... who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not.” 1 Peter 2:21, 2321For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1 Peter 2:23).
“And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.” v. 20. The mocking, for the moment, is ended and the journey beyond the walls of Jerusalem and up to Golgotha takes place. John informs us that at the commencement of this journey the cross was laid on Jesus Himself, but somewhere on that hill it is transferred to the shoulders of Simon, a Cyrenian, who followed Jesus with it to the brow of the hill. There is reason to think that the two sons of Simon named here, Alexander and Rufus, are the ones mentioned later in the Scriptures, who became believers in Christ. So it is happy to see, even in the midst of this dreadful scene, the groundwork laid for future blessing to these individuals. Luke also tells us “there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.” Luke 23:2727And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. (Luke 23:27).
Mark, however, reviewing the life of Jesus as the true Servant, does not linger over these portions but more simply brings before us the facts accompanying the perfect obedience of this blessed Son of God. Nor will we seek here to elaborate on this scene at this time. The reader is urged, however, to read the account of Calvary in each of the four Gospels and in meditation thereon, to let his own heart be touched with the perfectness of the One who there gave His life that we might “pass from death unto life.”
ML-05/31/1964