Jesus Clothed with Purple and a Crown of Thorns - Mark 15:17

Mark wrote how Pilate, “willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto” the crowd who was watching Jesus' trial “and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band”, and in chapter fifteen and verse seventeen of his book, Mark shared how the soldiers, “clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head” where we read:

And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

The verse reads, “And they clothed him with purple, ...”. Mark began with the words, “And they clothed him” which means “and the Roman soldiers arrayed and put garments on Jesus” “with purple” or “with fabric colored with a purple dye”. Mark shared how the Roman soldiers began to mock Jesus by “arraying” Him in “purple” garments which were usually worn by royalty.

The verse goes on to say, “... and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,” Mark continued with the words, “and platted” which means “and braided, twined or weaved together” “a crown of thorns” or “a wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games made with thorny twigs of a thorny plant”, “and put it about his head” which means “and placed, bound, bestowed and conferred the crown of thorns on Jesus' head of His body”. Mark shared how the Roman soldiers continued their mocking by weaving together a “crown” made with “thorns” and placing it upon Jesus' head.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see the humiliating gestures put upon Jesus as the Roman soldiers made fun of Him being “the King of the Jews”. These men were so spiritually blind that they could not see they were subjecting God's Son to ridicule, mockery and atrocious disrespect as they “clothed” Him in royal colors and “crowned” Him with a diadem made with thorns. Oh how God the Father must have anguished over the handling of His Only Begotten Son Jesus as He watched His own creation abuse Him. God's love extends to mankind through His Son Jesus because without a payment for man's sins, no one could live with God. Jesus endured this punishment, ridicule and mockery so every person would have the opportunity to receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who are wise will not only think about what He did for them, but also yield their lives to Him for doing so.

Next time Mark shares how the soldiers, “began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".