John 19:1-5

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

 

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

 

John presents this next scene as Pilate’s attempt at least to get Jesus off the cross. So while Pilate rejected Jesus’ kingship, Pilate still recognized Jesus’ innocence.

 

In response to the Jews’ demand to release Barabbas rather than Jesus, Pilate took Jesus back into the Praetorium and had the soldiers flog Him. They did much more than that, though. They took out their disdain for the Jews on Jesus as if He were actually the king of the Jews. In essence, they were belittling the Jews by belittling their king.

 

Imagine being king of the Jews and then being subjected to this. Rather than receiving the proper respect, and after being flogged, soldiers from the country that has invaded yours give you a crown of thorns to replace the crown you rightfully wear. They dress you in a purple robe, but merely for the purpose of mockery. On a battered and beaten and seemingly-defeated king, the purple robe received no respect. Rather, the soldiers repeatedly say, “Hail, king of the Jews,” and strike you in the face.

 

And after imagining the offense of these things if you were king of the Jews, realize that Jesus actually was the king of the Jews. And of the Romans. He had created them all. He is king of kings! But Jesus chose – knowingly, He chose – to be subjected to this humiliation out of obedience to His Father and love for us. To Jesus, this was glory, and through all this glorious suffering, including the cross, Jesus would glorify His Father (John 17:1).

 

But Pilate seemingly had Jesus flogged and allowed all the painful mockery, strangely, in Jesus’ defense. Pilate went out again to the Jews and said, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” Pilate’s saying, “He’s innocent. And I want you to see Him.” And then Pilate brings out this battered Jesus and says, “Look at the man.” The way the story goes, it’s as though Pilate wanted to induce some pity among the Jews for Jesus. He wanted them to recognize that Jesus was an innocent man, and that their anger had led to His battered condition, and that this ought to be enough for them.

 

But it is not enough to recognize Jesus’ innocence. Pilate should have also treated Jesus as the king He is. Pilate’s denial of Jesus’ kingship led Pilate to flog Jesus and to let the soldiers mock His kingship. Yes, it was an attempt to get Jesus off the cross, but the attempt was not because Pilate saw Jesus as king. Pilate tried to get Jesus off the cross merely because he could see that Jesus was an innocent man, while the Jews were seeking to free the certainly criminal Barabbas.

 

Father, there are so many people who look at Jesus this way – as an innocent man, but not a king. Not the king. Not their king. Not our king. Father, help us who know You not merely to talk about how good and innocent Jesus was. Help us to tell people that He is the king of all! That this king chose to give His life for theirs, but that He now demands that all people everywhere listen to Him, give their allegiance to Him, obey Him – for He is coming again (Acts 17:30-31)! Help me to live this way, in humble and complete allegiance to my King, proclaiming exactly what He tells me to say, doing what He commands.