COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 165
Mark 15:16 “And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, 18 And began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him. 20 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. 21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.”
(Mark 15:16-21; Matt 27:27-32; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)
JESUS IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED
INTRODUCTION
The horrendous things that were done to Jesus before He was crucified were cruel and brutal beyond all imagination. He was subjected to treatment that was not heaped upon even the worst of criminals – particularly mockery. Yet, as unjust and barbarous as this treatment was, we must not allow it to overshadow what God did to Jesus. The redemptive value was found in God’s treatment of Christ after He was crucified. It is what happened ON the cross, AFTER men had done their worst, that accomplished the will of God, providing a sound basis upon which men could be both delivered and justified. In considering the death of Jesus, both our hearts and minds will be challenged to reach deeper than their natural capacity allows, for there is a profound “depth” in God’s salvation. We must strain to see farther, for there is a “length” in His salvation that cannot be perused casually. Here, during a brief period of time, the wrath and indignation of God will be focused upon His only begotten Son. He will be “made a curse” for us, and be “made to be sin” in order that sin might be judged and condemned effectively, and once for all (Gal 3:13; 2 Cor 5:21). God’s absolute hatred of sin will be seen to be greater than man’s hatred of Jesus. His judgment against His own Christ will transcend the judgments rendered by men. Therefore, as we consider what men did to Jesus, it will begin to sensitize our hearts, preparing us for an alert and tender thoughtfulness concerning the Divine judgment that took place on the cross. That was the worst judgment and the most severe experience of Jesus. What He undergoes from men will, in a sense serve to prepare Him for what will be experienced as He hangs upon the cross.
JESUS IS SUBMITTED TO MORE HARSH TREATMENT
“ Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his Head.”
What we are now witnessing takes place after the official judgment of Jesus has been completed, and the sentence of death has been declared. This is taking place in a Roman court that was noted, in those times, for special attention to justice and sound judgment. Yet, the depravity of human nature breaks out when these men, noted for their penchant for law and order, confront the Christ of God.
THEY LED HIM AWAY INTO THE HALL. Matthew says they took Jesus “into the common hall” (Matt 27:27). The Praetorium, by definition, was “the house of the Roman Governor in his province,” McCLINTOK being equivalent to a “Governor’s mansion” in our country. John refers to it as “the hall of judgment” (John 18:28) and “the judgment hall” (John 19:9). In other words, Jesus was taken to Pilate’s official residence, and to the section of it in which judgments or trials took place. This is after Jesus had been presented to the people, who were standing outside of this area because they did not want to defile themselves during the Passover (John 18:28). Now, the judgment against him had already been finalized (Mk 15:15), and Pilate had proclaimed the sentence (Lk 23:24). Now, however, even more indignities will be heaped upon the Savior.
THEY CALL TOGETHER THE WHOLE BAND. A Roman “band,” is also referred to as a cohort, and was a tenth part of a Roman legion. It consisted of from 400-600 men, according to the size of the legion. This was, therefore, a considerable number of soldiers. Here, this band of men, charged with upholding the law, will sport with Jesus, subjecting Him to ignominy and shame. They will join with Pilate, Herod, the chief priests, the elders, the Pharisees, and scribes, and the Jewish people “against the Lord, and against His Christ” (Acts 4:26).
There is something to be noted here. The corruption of the people of God brought out the rottenness that was within the Gentiles. Although the Gentiles had not themselves sided against Christ, yet the opposition of the Jews moved them to also oppose the Christ. It is in this sense that spiritual Babylon is referred to as “the mother of . . . abominations of the earth” (Rev 17:5). It is because of corrupt Christendom that “the word of God” is “blasphemed” (Tit 2:5). Thus the Lord’s adversaries are given “to speak reproachfully” because of the inconsistent conduct of professing believers (1 Tim 5:14). It is, therefore, possible for “the name of God and His doctrine” to be “blasphemed” because of the lives of those who identify themselves with Him (1 Tim 6:1). All of this is being lived out in our text. The opposition of Pilate, Herod, and the soldiers was actually occasioned by the corrupt religion of the Jews, and their leaders in particular. While it is true that holy and consistent lives are not a guarantee that believers will be well received by their enemies, such lives will promote shame among those who accuse them falsely (1 Pet 2:12; 3:16; Tit 2:18).
THEY CLOTHED HIM WITH PURPLE. “They clothed Him with purple.” Matthew says, “they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe” (Matt 27:28). John says, “they put on Him a purple robe,” and that this took place after they had “scourged Him” (John 19:1-2). This was an expression of mockery in which they were scorning Him for the claim that He was a King. Several hundred men, who apparently did not have access o Jesus before, are now granted access to Him to insult and abuse Him before He is actually nailed to the cross.
THEY PLATTED A CROWN OF THORNS. “They platted a crown of thorns and put it about His head.” More than simply placing this thorny crown on the head of Jesus, the language indicates that they wrapped it around His head, inflicting more pain, so that the thorns pierced His head and gripped it tightly as it came together. The word “platted” means braided, like men weave a rope, or a woman braids her hair. Matthew adds that they also put “a reed in His right hand,” as though feigning a kingly scepter (Matt 27:29).
A LESSON TO BE LEARNED. In all of this, we are being faced with what it means to know Jesus “after the flesh,” or purely in connection with His humanity. “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Cor 5:16). These men thought that because Jesus did not resist them or restrain them that He could not do so. They judged Him according to the flesh. They considered themselves to be superior to Jesus, and thus subjected Him to shame, unaware that the time would come when they would stand before this very Person, and hear their eternal destiny announced by Him publically.
Similarly, there are still people who ignore Jesus, refuse to consider His words, and live in stark contradiction of what He has said, thinking nothing of it. They too have concluded that Jesus is powerless, and refuse to consider that, in the end, He will judge them. All of this is in spite of the remarkable abundance of revelation that God has provided in the “record” He has given of His Son (1 John 5:10-11). Such persons are in the same category as those of our text.
JESUS IS SALUTED, SMITTEN, SPIT UPON, AND MOCKED
“ 18 And began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him . . .”
Now, the soldiers are given time to mock and ridicule the Lord Jesus, making sport of Him, and subjecting Him to shame. Sin has hardened these men, so that they do not have any pangs of conscience about what they are doing, but consider it to be nothing more than indulging in a form of pleasure – imagining they are exploiting the weakness of Jesus. Actually, however, He is submitting to them with a very lively awareness of the time when they will openly be subjected to Him. They did not know what they were doing – but Jesus knew!
THEY BEGAN TO SALUTE HIM. Other versions read, “they began to acclaim Him,” NASB “began to call out to Him,” NIV “as if honoring Him,” BBE “saluted Him and taunted.” [teased] NLT The word “Hail” means “greetings, good health to You, long life to You.” AMPLIFIED The technical meaning of the word is “rejoice and be glad,” THAYER and “enjoy a state of happiness and well being.” LOUW-NIDA It is as though they were saying, “In view of your kingship, may you enjoy a state of well being and happiness!” All the while, they were heaping shame upon Him, and doing whatever they wanted to Him, free from any of his kingly restraints – at least, that is what they thought they were doing. But in the heavens, God laughed, having them in derision, He was going to enthrone His King anyway, and bring a conclusion to their seemingly invincible reign. As it is written, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psa 2:4-6). What they did to Jesus was nothing to be compared with what God was going to do to them! He would “terrify them in His fury,” NASB and God does have fury that terrifies His enemies! I will tell you that when Jesus comes in all of His glory, there will not be so much as a syllable of derision spoken against Him. And, it would not have been spoken here if Jesus did not submit to it.
THEY SMOTE HIM. “They smote Him on the head with a reed,” or “kept beating Him on the head with a reed,” NASB or “staff.” NIV The Amplified Bible reads, “they struck His head with a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed.” The Living Bible reads, “they beat Him on the head with a cane.” A “reed,” in this case, was actually a firm stick that was made out of the reed plant – woven together tightly for use as a walking stick or measuring rod. It was something solid, and was by no means flimsy or flexible. Keep in mind that at this time a woven crown of thorns had been wrapped around His head.
John adds that they also “struck Him with their hands,” NKJV striking Him “in the face” NIV (John 19:3), for the word used here means “a slap in the face.” THAYER
THEY SPIT UPON HIM. Not content to mock Jesus, strike Him on the head with a cane, and slap Him repeatedly in the face, they also “did spit upon Him” in derision. This is more of the spitting from which Jesus, fulfilling the word of Isaiah, refused to hide His face (Isa 50:6).
THEY BOWED THEIR KNEES TO HIM. What mockery was this in which the soldiers engaged! They feigned worship, as though they were honoring Jesus. Actually, their intent was to show that they saw nothing in Him that suggested He was a king. Therefore they could hit Him on the head with a cane, slap Him in the face, and spit on Him with perfect freedom. Then, to show that they were in control, they would bow to Him and worship Him in an act of pretension and rebellion. Anyone who imagines that this was not noted in heaven needs to rethink the matter. If God took special note of the oppression of Pharaoh against a people He had chosen (Ex 3:7), what will He do to those who submit His own Son to such indignities? If He punished Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians for taking delight in carrying out His will against a disobedient people (Jer 50:11), what will He do to those who carried out His will against His Christ, His “well beloved Son?” You may rest assured that at this very hour, those men are acutely aware of the folly of their conduct during the occasion that is being reported.
THEY PUT HIS OWN CLOTHES ON HIM. The soldiers then removed “the robe” from Jesus (Matt 27:31), and “put His own clothes on Him.” Now, they would lead Him away to be crucified. Thus, prior to the cross, Jesus had endured unspeakable atrocities. At the palace of Caiaphas they lied against Him, spit on Him, covered His head and beat Him, asking Him to prophesy who smote Him. They struck Him in the face, blasphemously spoke against Him, and pummeled Him with their fists. Before Pilate He was falsely accused, and twice scourged. Before Herod he was treated with contempt, mocked, and arrayed in a “gorgeous robe.” Before the soldiers of Pilate He was clothed in purple, had a crown of thorns wrapped around His head, was beaten on the head with a cane, and slapped in the face. They also spit on Him, and feigned to worship Him. All of this was because of our sin, yet it did not pay the price for it.
JESUS IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED
“ 20b . . . and led Him out to crucify Him. 21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.”
JESUS IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. Now, being disfigured more than any of the sons of men (Isa 52:14), Jesus is led away to be crucified. John, a first hand witness of the events (John 19:35), informs us that at the first “he bearing His cross went forth” from the place in which He was tried and condemned (John 19:17). The Scriptures do not say that Jesus fell beneath the weight of the cross, as some song writers have said. However, that is suggested in the record that follows.
ANOTHER IS COMPELLED TO CARRY HIS CROSS. The soldiers who were leading Jesus “compelled” a man from Cyrene, a city in Libya which is a region in Africa, to carry Christ’s cross. Matthew says they did this “as they came out” (Matt 27:32) – that is, “going out of the city.” WILLIAMS Both Matthew and Mark identify the man by name – “Simon.” The fact that he was a man from an African region who was in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover strongly suggests that he was a proselyte who had come there to worship – like the Ethiopian eunuch would do on a later occasion (Acts 8:27). Mark also states that he was “coming in from the country and passing by.” NKJV That is, as the group was going out of the city toward the place of crucifixion, Simon was coming into the city from another place in that area. Luke tells us that Simon carried the cross “after Jesus” – that is, with Jesus leading the way (Lk 23:26).
Mark tells us even more of this man, saying he was “the father of Alexander and Rufus.” At the time Mark wrote this, it appears these names were well known among believers. During those early days, Christians took particular note of those who were especially devoted to the Lord and advanced in the faith (Acts 6:1; 16:2; Rom 16:7). It is unfortunate that this is not a common practice in our day, and betrays a certain level of apostasy. Although it cannot be confirmed with certainty, it is supposed that the sons of Simon, Alexander and Rufus, are the individuals of reference in Acts 19:33 (Alexander) and Rom 16:13 (Rufus).
A GREAT CROWD FOLLOWS THE PROCESSION. As the soldiers and Jesus proceeded to the appointed place, there followed Jesus “a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.” (Lk 23:27). These had certainly not condoned the condemnation of Jesus, and were lamenting in a state of hopelessness. A special note is made of the women who were lamenting.
Jesus speaks to these women, referring to them as “Daughters of Jerusalem,” or those who truly belong to the city of God. “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:28-31). What a stirring prophesy of the Savior – and it was given while He was on the way to the cross.
Weep Not For Me. Jesus admonishes the women not to weep for Him. While what was happening to Him was, from one point of view, tragic, He would recover from it. This is what had been appointed to Him by God, and it would result in the remission of sin and the reconciling of men to God. From the standpoint of the flesh, this was nothing to be compared with what was going to take place in Jerusalem. The women should therefore weep for themselves and their offspring, for Divine judgment was on the horizon. There is a sense in which men rejecting Jesus is worse than God forsaking Him. Jesus would taste death for every man, but be raised again from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God. That, however, would not be the experience of the generation of which Jesus then spoke.
The Days are Coming. The time would come when it would be a blessing NOT to conceive children. It would also be a time when those who had no children at all would be glad they did not. A sense of despair would grip the city, and they would rather be covered by the mountains and hills than to face what was coming. Jesus was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem – something that was decreed from heaven when the city rejected the Lord’s Christ, not knowing the time of their visitation (Lk 13:44-45; 19:42-44). There are times when the ordinary values of life are reduced to nothing, giving no advantage and bringing no satisfaction. That is a consequence that took place because Jerusalem rejected Jesus. That was only an introduction to the magnitude of the curse that will be focused on those who ultimately refuse to believe on Jesus.
If They Do These Things in a Green Tree. Here Jesus likens Himself to a “green tree,” filled with life, and difficult to burn. Jerusalem, on the other hand, is likened to a dead and brittle “dry tree” that can easily be burned. If, under the administration of God, men treated Jesus as they did, what would happen when the wrath of God was unleashed through men against Jerusalem? It was, indeed, a fearful thing to consider! However, that is how serious it is when men, for whatever reason, reject the Son of God, spurning His invitation and ignoring His word.