The
soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. When they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:16-20
Mark 15 [14.] Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?”
Mark 15 [15.] Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified. The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. When they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him. They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.
Mark 15 [24.] Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. It was the third hour, and they crucified him. The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.”
Meaning:
Pilate has had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15). Before leading him to execution, the Roman soldiers turn him into a game. Because he was accused of claiming to be “the King of the Jews”, they stage a mock coronation, complete with robe, crown, sceptre and homage. Every insult is aimed at his kingship, and yet, without knowing it, they proclaim the truth.
- “The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium”
The Praetorium was the governor’s headquarters in Jerusalem, probably Herod’s former palace or the Antonia fortress next to the temple. The soldiers were most likely auxiliaries recruited from non-Jewish peoples of the region, men who had little love for the Jews. “The whole cohort” was a unit that could number several hundred men. Jesus, already torn by the flogging, was surrounded by a crowd of mocking soldiers.
- “They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him”
Purple was the colour of royalty, and a crown or wreath was the sign of a ruler. The soldiers probably used an old military cloak and twisted together thorny branches that were at hand. The crown was meant to ridicule, but it also caused real pain. The King who came to bring life wore a crown of thorns.
- “Hail, King of the Jews!” … bowing their knees, did homage to him
The soldiers imitated the salute given to the emperor, Ave Caesar (hail, Caesar). They struck his head with a reed, a mock sceptre, spat on him and knelt in pretended worship. Jesus had said, “They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him” (Mark 10:34). Isaiah’s Servant also said, “I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). The same treatment had already begun in the council, where “Some began to spit on him” (Mark 14:65).
The irony is deep. The soldiers bowed in mockery before the one to whom one day “every knee should bow” in truth (Philippians 2:8-10).
- “When they had mocked him … They led him out to crucify him”
After the game they put his own clothes back on him, and these clothes would soon be divided among the execution squad (Mark 15:24-28). Then they led him out of the city toward the place of crucifixion.
The Significance of Mark 15:16-20
- The humility of the King
The King of kings let himself be treated as a joke. He did not call down judgment or defend his honour. Paul writes that “he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). His humility shows the depth of his love.
- Mockery and true worship
The soldiers performed outward acts of worship without any faith or reverence. It is possible to bow, sing and use the right words while the heart is far from God. True worship honours Jesus as King in heart and life.
- Enduring shame
Jesus “endured the cross, despising its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Believers who are mocked for following him share, in a small way, in his reproach, and they can endure it by looking to him.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 50:6: "I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting." The Servant’s shame foretold.
Mark 10:34: "They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him." Jesus foretold the mockery.
Philippians 2:8: "he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross." The humility of Christ.
Hebrews 12:2: "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame," Jesus endured shame for us.
Conclusion: In the Praetorium the soldiers dressed Jesus in purple, crowned him with thorns, hailed him as King of the Jews, struck him, spat on him and knelt in mockery before leading him out to be crucified. They meant it as a joke, yet he truly is the King, and he accepted this humiliation willingly, fulfilling his own words and the prophecy of Isaiah. His humility calls us to true worship and gives us strength to endure reproach for his sake.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible