The Abuse And Mockery Of Christ | Mark 15:16-20

Introduction: The term ‘war crimes’ refer to the crimes that violate the laws of war.

Examples of war crimes include the willful killing of civilians or prisoners, torture, taking hostages, rape, sexual slavery, using child soldiers, etc.

In 1474, the Roman Empire held the first international war crimes trial.

Recently, the agreements in the Geneva Convention forced Pakistan to return Abhinandan Varthaman, a wing commander in the Indian Air Force after his aircraft was shot down in POK.

“The Geneva Convention was a series of international diplomatic meetings that produced a number of agreements, in particular, the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, a group of international laws for the humane treatment of wounded or captured military personnel, medical personnel and non-military civilians during a war or armed conflicts. The agreements originated in 1864 and were significantly updated in 1949 after World War II.” ~ History.com

However, there were no such agreements during the time of Jesus.

The Roman soldiers were known for their brutality and they fully demonstrated their viciousness against Jesus.

Would you take God’s Word and turn your Bibles with me to Mark 15:16-20?

I have entitled today’s sermon as: “THE ABUSE AND MOCKERY OF CHRIST.”

Mark 14 & 15 describe the betrayal, abandonment, arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ, which is referred to as “passion” (which is the Latin word for “suffer”).

In the passage that we read today, we see that:

CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE TEXT: Jesus was physically abused and mocked inside the praetorium before he was led out to be crucified.

As we saw earlier, Jesus made several predictions about his sufferings in Mark’s gospel.

In his final prophecy (Mark 10:33-34), he gives specific details of his sufferings.

The first half of the prediction mentioned in verse 33 speaks of Sanhedrin’s role in delivering him over to the Gentiles.

This is fulfilled in Mark 14:53-65.

The second half of the prediction mentioned in Mark 14:34 speaks of the role of the Gentiles in Christ’s sufferings.

Several prophecies in Mark 10:33b-34 is fulfilled in Mark 15:15-20.

Jesus prophesied that the religious leaders will deliver Jesus to the Gentiles in Mark 10:33 and we see its fulfilment in Mark 15:15.

Jesus said that the Gentiles “will mock him” (Mark 10:34) and we see its fulfilment in Mark 15:20.

Jesus prophesied that the Gentiles will spit on him in Mark 10:34 and we see its fulfilment in Mark 15:19.

Jesus prophesied that the Gentiles will flog him in Mark 10:34 and we see its fulfilment in Mark 15:15.

When Jesus went through an illegal trial before the Sanhedrin, they mocked his divine status (“prophesy!” Mark 14:65).

After Jesus went through the trial before Pilate, he was mocked for his royal status (“Hail, King of the Jews!” Mark 15:18).

Even in this passage, the irony continues.

Just as the high priest and Pilate acknowledge Jesus’ true identity, even the soldiers unknowingly acknowledge his identity in word (Mark 15:18) and deed (Mark 15:19).

Humans bear witness to God even when they rebel against him.

FALLEN CONDITION FOCUS: Already dealt with.

THE PURPOSE BRIDGE: To inform the members of EAGC as to how Jesus was physically abused and mocked and help them to respond to his sacrifice.

CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE SERMON: I have used inductive proposition for this sermon.

I. THE SOLDIERS LEAD JESUS INSIDE THE PRAETORIUM.

Mark 15:16: And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.

Jesus was scourged in front of Herod’s palace in the presence of several people.

Jesus is now led to the praetorium, which was Herod’s palace.

Pilate stayed in the praetorium while he was in Jerusalem.

The Greek word for “battalion” is “speira” and it refers to a tenth of a Roman legion, that is, about 600 men.

Or it could probably refer to all the soldiers who were on duty at that time.

Scholars say that these soldiers were a part of the auxiliary (adjunct) troops who were brought from Caesarea to Jerusalem to maintain law and order during the Passover feast.

These soldiers were non-Jews who were recruited from Israel and other parts of the Roman empire.

Mark tells that this “whole battalion” physically abuses and mocks Jesus.

II. THE SOLDIERS PHYSICALLY ABUSE AND MOCK JESUS.

Mark 15:17-20a.

Mark 15:17: And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.

A purple cloak symbolized royalty.

Purple dye was imported from Tyre and was expensive.

Only the wealthy could afford a purple cloak.

Some scholars say that this purple cloak refers to a soldier’s red cloak which had faded (cf. Matthew 27:28).

So, the soldiers put on a purple cloak on Jesus’ bleeding back which must have been very painful.

The soldiers make a crown of thorns which is an imitation of the diadem (crown) worn by the emperor as a sign of divinity from probably an acanthus plant which is common to the Mediterranean region, including Jerusalem.

The curse began in thorns (Genesis 3:18) and it ended in thorns!

Matthew 27:29 adds that the soldiers “put a reed in his right hand” which served as a scepter.

Mark 15:18: And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

The phrase, “Hail, King of the Jews” is a parody of Caesar’s salute, “Ave Caesar! (Hail, Caesar!)”

As they mocked Jesus by saluting him, they probably intended to mock the Jews as well.

Mark 15:19: And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.

Having mocked Jesus, the soldiers now begin to physically abuse him.

The soldiers probably grabbed the reed from Jesus’ hands and began “striking his head with a reed.”

The Greek suggests that they kept striking Jesus’ head and that probably drove the thorns deep into Jesus’ scalp.

Since the scalp is one of the most vascular areas of the body, it would have led to profuse bleeding.

They kept spitting (imperfect tense in Greek) on Jesus.

Spitting may be seen as a parody on the kiss of homage.

Their mouths and lips were created to praise Jesus, but they keep spitting on him.

This is probably an illusion to Isaiah 50:6: I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

They kept “kneeling down (present tense in Greek) in homage to him.”

Jesus is condemned, mocked, and crucified because he is the King of the Jews.

The brutal treatment of Jesus by the Roman soldiers reminds one of Jesus’ treatment by the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:65).

Mark 15:20a: And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him.

After mocking Jesus, the soldiers “stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him.”

These soldiers were sadistic.

They derived pleasure from abusing an innocent man.

When they put on the purple cloak on Jesus, it probably stuck to his bleeding back.

As the soldiers stripped Jesus of the purple cloak, that must have caused excruciating pain.

Can you imagine the pain when a bandage is pulled out from a wound?

Generally, the victims of crucifixion were scourged and led out naked to be crucified.

However, since the Jews opposed such obscenity, the Romans put Jesus’ own clothes.

III. THE SOLDERS LEAD JESUS OUT TO CRUCIFY HIM.

Mark 15:20b: And they led him out to crucify him.

The victim of crucifixion had to carry the cross from within the city to the place of crucifixion located outside the city.

In the next week, we will see the excruciating pain that Jesus had to go through as he was crucified by the Romans.

CONCLUSION (INCLUDING THE PROPOSITION, REVIEWING THE MAIN POINTS [OPTIONAL], AND ACTION STATEMENTS):

Jesus’ mockery by the soldiers reveals the capability of humans to sin.

We live in a sinful world and we must not be surprised by the behavior of depraved humans.

This story also gives an insight into the worldly idea of a king.

For these soldiers, a king is one who executes his authority and lords it over others.

A king has an army.

But Jesus didn’t have one.

But Jesus wants us to follow his example of humility and service.

Though Jesus was physically abused and mocked, one day every knee will bow before this King (Philippians 2:11).

The same soldiers who mocked Jesus by bowing before him will see him in his glory and bow down before him!

The Father will turn the soldiers’ mockery into reality.

CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE SERMON: Worship King Jesus as he was physically abused and mocked for us.

Jesus is truly the King of kings and the Lord of lords and he is worthy to be worshipped as such.

Another big reason to worship King Jesus is that he voluntarily gave his life as a sacrifice so that we can reign with him in his kingdom!

So, let’s worship King Jesus through our words and life!

IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SAVED, REPENT AND GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS RIGHT TODAY!