Smote, Spit Upon and Worshiped - Mark 15:19

Mark wrote how, “Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, 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 they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!”, and in chapter fifteen and verse nineteen of his book, Mark shared how the soldiers, “smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him” where we read:

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him,

and bowing their knees worshiped him.

The verse reads, “And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, ...”. Mark began with the words, “and the smote him” which means “and the Roman soldiers struck, whipped, and hit Jesus” “on the head” or “upon the head of Jesus' body” “with a reed” which means “with a staff or rod made of a reed”, “and did spit upon him” or “and projected saliva on Jesus”. Mark shared how the Roman soldiers continued to ridicule and mock Jesus as they beat Him on the head with a “rod” and “spat” upon Him in disgust.

The verse goes on to say, “... and bowing their knees worshiped him.” Mark continued with the words, “and bowing their knees” which means “and bending forth the knees of their bodies” “worshiped him” or “prostrated themselves to do homage or make obeisance to express respect or make supplication to Jesus”. Mark shared how the Roman soldiers began to “bow” before Jesus as though they were “worshiping” and “giving honor” to Him.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how the Roman soldiers continued their mocking of Jesus as they hit Him with a rod, spit upon Him and bowed their knees as though they were honoring Him as a King. This cruel mocking and abuse was known in advance by Jesus and His Father God, and He endured them for the benefit of all mankind. Jesus, who is God in the flesh, subjected Himself to beatings, mocking, ridicule and eventual death so people could be saved from their sins and live forever with Him. When a person believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, they appropriate the “suffering and death” of Jesus upon themselves, and forgiveness of their sins is given so they may have a relationship with God. Paul the apostle wrote, “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (See 2 Corinthians 5:21), and those who are wise will yield themselves to Him who endured all these things on their behalf.

Next time Mark shares, “when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him … and led him out to crucify him”, 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".