SECTION SIX THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND OF JESUS Mark 15:16 to 16:20 14. JESUS MOCKED AND LED AWAY BY THE Mark 15:16-21 (Matthew 27:27-32; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:1-3; John 19:16-17) 16 And the soldiers led him away within the court,--The scourging seems to have taken place in the open space in front of the Praetorium, and in sight of the people. It was done on the naked back. which is the Praetorium;--This was doubtless built, like most large eastern houses, in a quadrangular form around a court. The judgment seat of Pilate had been outside, to satisfy the scruples of the chief priests. Now the soldiers take him inside to have their own amusement at his expense. and they call together the whole band.--That is, "the cohort," from four to six hundred men, who were the garrison. 17 And they clothe him with purple,--The imperial color which some of the emperors had forbidden to be worn by subjects; therefore the mocking emblem of his kingly authority. Matthew says a "scarlet robe." and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;--The Syrian Acacia had thorns as long as a finger. They were the buckthorn and others. Some think that the thorn used was Arabian mulik. "It was very suitable for their purpose, as it has many sharp thorns, which inflict painful wounds, its flexible, pliant and round branches might easily be plaited in the form of a crown." It is just so that the hypocrite decks Christ. 18 and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews !--Matthew adds that they put "a reed in his right hand." He also says "they kneeled down before him." These things were done to mock Jesus. They saluted him after the manner of paying obeisance to royal persons. 19 And they smote his head with a reed,--Driving down upon it the crown of thorns. This reed they probably placed in his hand as a scepter, and then tiring of that, they took it and whipped him over the head with it. and spat upon him,--Expression of utmost contempt. and bowing their knees worshipped him.--Thus they mingled mocking and abuse. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments.--His own garments which had been removed when he was scourged. and they lead him out to crucify him.--That is, out of the city limits. (Hebrews 13:12.) Jesus goes to death with glory beyond; Pilate rests secure in his office, with shame beyond; the chief priests gloat over success which will destroy their polity; the people follow with exultation, not knowing it is the beginning of sorrows. How different do things appear in the perspective of the future! But Jesus goes onward to the cross. A world needs salvation, which only he can give. 21 And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus,--This familiar mention indicates that all these were persons known to the evangelist. But to undertake to identify them with some certain ones who bore the same name, simply because of that fact, is absurd in view of the endless repetition of names in those days, and even in the New Testament. to go with them, that he might bear his cross.--[And "they took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull." (John 19:17.) Matthew, Mark, and Luke all state that as "they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus." Jesus, exhausted and weakened by the long and sleepless period in which he had been on trial, was unable to bear it; so they pressed this foreigner into the service. Luke says: "And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him." This is the only indication we have during the progress of the trial that any of the multitude that sang Hosanna on his triumphal entry remained faithful to him during his trial. "Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck." In the Sanhedrin there were some who had not consented to this condemnation. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who first came to Jesus by night, were of this number. (Luke 23:28-29.) But their voices were not heard in the cry for his crucifixion.]