And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
Jesus was led from Pilate's court and judgment-hall to Calvary to be crucified, bearing the cross that had been prepared for Barabbas, while two companions of Barabbas also bore crosses to die at the same time. He had taken neither food nor drink since the Passover supper, had agonized in Gethsemane in conflict with satanic agencies, and had endured the anguish of betrayal and the forsaking and flight of the disciples. He had been taken to Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Pilate, then to Herod, then again to Pilate, and had endured insult upon insult and mockery upon mockery and had twice been tortured by the scourge, yet spoke no word but what tended to glorify God and bore Himself with firmness and dignity. In weak and suffering condition human nature could bear no more, and He fell fainting beneath the burden, and when it was laid on Him again He fell fainting to the ground, while the crowd that followed from the judgment-hall showed no compassion but taunted and reviled Him because He could not carry the heavy cross. His persecutors saw He could carry it no farther, yet the Jews would not bear the humiliating load because defilement would prevent keeping the Passover, and none of the mob would stoop to bear it.
On that journey a vast multitude of people of all classes and ranks followed after news of His condemnation spread throughout Jerusalem. His disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them. At the cross the soldiers mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar as a sour drink and challenging and taunting Him as King of the Jews to save Himself and come down from the cross. The hardened Roman soldiers joined priests, rulers, scribes, dignitaries of the temple, passersby, the rabble, the multitude, and the thief on the cross in united mocking, jeering, and abusive derision of the dying Son of God.
Their mocking words were the very words inspiration had foretold would be uttered on that occasion, repeated word for word, which they fulfilled in blindness without perceiving it. In joining that mockery the dignitaries of the temple forgot the dignity of sacred office. The mocking also belongs to His suffering before the crucifixion. His humiliation and apparent defeat did not diminish His right and power to forgive sins; in His death He vindicated His right to pardon transgression.
The soldiers' mockery added to His suffering and placed Him in the depths of humiliation as one of the indignities He endured at the hands of cruel men. It belongs with Him in the hands of wicked men, His own nation clamoring for His blood, the crown of thorns, the purple robe, bowing and striking with the reed, scourging as a criminal, Barabbas chosen in His place, and being lifted up on the cross to die as a malefactor. His derision and insults, weakened journey to execution, and agony on the cross present the cost He bore for humanity, showing that following Him is worth any self-denial. Witnessing the Bridegroom being taken away from the disciples in this treatment gave them cause to mourn and fast, with days of trial and temptation when the Comforter was not clearly discerned and their faith was tried and their hope and courage failed because the One in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered was so treated.
Jesus was led from Pilate's court and judgment-hall to Calvary to be crucified, bearing the cross that had been prepared for Barabbas, while two companions of Barabbas also bore crosses to die at the same time. He had taken neither food nor drink since the Passover supper, had agonized in Gethsemane in conflict with satanic agencies, and had endured the anguish of betrayal and the forsaking and flight of the disciples. He had been taken to Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Pilate, then to Herod, then again to Pilate, and had endured insult upon insult and mockery upon mockery and had twice been tortured by the scourge, yet spoke no word but what tended to glorify God and bore Himself with firmness and dignity. In weak and suffering condition human nature could bear no more, and He fell fainting beneath the burden, and when it was laid on Him again He fell fainting to the ground, while the crowd that followed from the judgment-hall showed no compassion but taunted and reviled Him because He could not carry the heavy cross. His persecutors saw He could carry it no farther, yet the Jews would not bear the humiliating load because defilement would prevent keeping the Passover, and none of the mob would stoop to bear it.
On that journey a vast multitude of people of all classes and ranks followed after news of His condemnation spread throughout Jerusalem. His disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them. At the cross the soldiers mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar as a sour drink and challenging and taunting Him as King of the Jews to save Himself and come down from the cross. The hardened Roman soldiers joined priests, rulers, scribes, dignitaries of the temple, passersby, the rabble, the multitude, and the thief on the cross in united mocking, jeering, and abusive derision of the dying Son of God.
Their mocking words were the very words inspiration had foretold would be uttered on that occasion, repeated word for word, which they fulfilled in blindness without perceiving it. In joining that mockery the dignitaries of the temple forgot the dignity of sacred office. The mocking also belongs to His suffering before the crucifixion. His humiliation and apparent defeat did not diminish His right and power to forgive sins; in His death He vindicated His right to pardon transgression.
The soldiers' mockery added to His suffering and placed Him in the depths of humiliation as one of the indignities He endured at the hands of cruel men. It belongs with Him in the hands of wicked men, His own nation clamoring for His blood, the crown of thorns, the purple robe, bowing and striking with the reed, scourging as a criminal, Barabbas chosen in His place, and being lifted up on the cross to die as a malefactor. His derision and insults, weakened journey to execution, and agony on the cross present the cost He bore for humanity, showing that following Him is worth any self-denial. Witnessing the Bridegroom being taken away from the disciples in this treatment gave them cause to mourn and fast, with days of trial and temptation when the Comforter was not clearly discerned and their faith was tried and their hope and courage failed because the One in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered was so treated.