The Disrespect

Monday, October 11, 2021

16-20 The soldiers took Jesus into the palace (Praetorium) and called the entire brigade. They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thornbush on his head. Then they began their mockery: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” They banged on his head with a club, spit on him, and knelt down in mock worship. After having fun, they took off the purple cape and put their own clothes back on him. Then they marched out to nail him to the cross.

-Mark 15:16-20 The Message

Jesus Is Mocked

Verse 16: Now, the soldiers took Him away into the palace (the Praetorium), and they *called together the whole Roman cohort.

Verse 17: And they *dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him;

Verse 18: and they began saluting Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Verse 19: And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him.

Verse 20: After they had mocked Him, they took the purple cloak off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him.

Verse 19 study: What the soldiers were doing was “kneeling and bowing before Him”; they mocked Jesus by pretending to worship him. Can you imagine how that felt? The fact they mocked him. Reread the verse. “And they began saluting Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” “And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him.” Pay attention to the details. This is a classic sign of hate friends. This can’t happen, but it did. The world we live in encounters it every day. For example, hate crimes. A true definition of hate. What are you doing to help stop the violence?

Here is part of what I am doing. If you want to hear my voice on hate crimes and other racial issues of hate, “Afternoon Coffee Break with Darren Watts.” Listen to it where ever you get your podcasts.

Father, we see violence in the Bible when reading. We see it with our own eyes sometimes. It is never-ending. I pray for the domestic violence workers, that woman who is abused, the little girl or boy being bullied at school, and a person who is sexually abused. I lift them up to you. Give them love and care. In Jesus’ name. Amen!