In verses 27-31, rather than focusing on the details of Jesus’ scourging, Matthew spends his time describing the verbal flogging Jesus received as the Roman soldiers mocked his supremacy utilizing props: a mock robe, a crown of thorns, and a reed for a scepter. The soldiers knelt down before him in mock obeisance – an ironic foreshadow of how one day every human being will bow before Christ the King (Philippians 2:10). In an ironic insult to the Jews, in verse 37, Pilate had Jesus’ charge placed on an inscription over His head on the cross; it read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” This sentence, officially inscribed over the suffering Christ, is the core message of the Gospel! Little did Pilate realize that his placard actually preached the Gospel!
The placard, however, became the impetus of more mockery; after all, how is it possible that a king, with all his privilege and pageantry, suffer such an excruciating and shameful death? As Matthew reports the crucifixion of Christ in verses 32-44, once again his emphasis is more on the mockery than the physical suffering. In fact, none of the Gospel writers focus much on the physical pain that Jesus endured on the cross. Instead, the evangelists’ attention is on the demonic character of human cruelty, particularly manifested in their words. All of these instances of mockery only serve to remind us of the Hebrew Scriptures which are fulfilled. Remind yourself of these prophecies by reading Psalm 22:1-18, Psalm 69:1-21, and Isaiah 53.
