Jesus Reproached by the Soldiers

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Matthew 27:27-31
Psalters: 176, 120, 343, 12
  1. The scourging.
    1. Jesus was scourged: being stripped, hands tied around a pole, beaten with a whip with lead in tips.
    2. This was done by the on-duty Roman soldiers, who purposely gathered all those who were off-duty, to join them in the sport.
    3. For the soldiers it was an opportunity for sport with physical torture and bodily hurt.
  2. Worse than the physical abuse was the cruel verbal mocking salutes, “Hail, King of the Jews!
    1. They gave Jesus the appearance of a king: a purple robe, a crown and a scepter.
    2. The soldiers, representing the kingdom of this world, despise Christ’s kingship, considering it folly and entirely worthless.
    3. This reproach hit deeply because Jesus was/is really King (Ps. 2:6-8).
      1. He is King, but His kingdom is spiritual (not earthly), and He obtains it only by righteousness.
      2. But this kind of king and kingdom means nothing to the soldiers who recognize only earthly, physical might.
  3. King Jesus bore the reproach, giving His back to them, testifying in this way that He is the Servant of Jehovah.
    1. First, no one could have heaped this reproach on Him without His will.
    2. Second, see that His suffering is voluntary, completely an act of His will, arising out of love and obedience to His Father.
      1. He bears reproach as the Servant of Jehovah, and for the sake of God and God’s righteousness.
      2. This is a mighty royal deed!
    3. This condemns the world in the judgment of God.
    4. Finally, Christ bore the reproach because He put all His confidence in the Father.
  4. Jesus endured the suffering, despising the shame in order that we might be delivered from eternal torments.