The Abuse And Mockery Of Christ

Introduction

The term ‘war crimes’ refer to the crimes that violate the laws of war.

Examples of war crimes include the willful killing of civilians or prisoners, torture, taking hostages, rape, sexual slavery, using child soldiers, etc.

In 1474, the Roman Empire held the first international war crimes trial.

Recently, the agreements in the Geneva Convention forced Pakistan to return Abhinandan Varthaman, a wing-commander in the Indian Air Force after his aircraft was shot down in POK.

“The Geneva Convention was a series of international diplomatic meetings that produced a number of agreements, in particular, the Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, a group of international laws for the humane treatment of wounded or captured military personnel, medical personnel and non-military civilians during a war or armed conflicts. The agreements originated in 1864 and were significantly updated in 1949 after World War II.” ~ History.com

However, there were no such agreements during the time of Jesus.

The Roman soldiers were known for their brutality and they fully demonstrated their viciousness against Jesus.

Would you take God’s Word and turn your Bibles with me to MARK 15:16-20?

I have entitled today’s sermon as: “THE ABUSE AND MOCKERY OF CHRIST.”

Mark 14 & 15 describe the betrayal, abandonment, arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ, which is referred to as “passion” (which is the Latin word for “suffer”).

In the passage that we read today, we see that:

CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE TEXT: Jesus was physically abused and mocked inside the praetorium before he was led out to be crucified.

As we saw earlier, Jesus made several predictions about his sufferings in Mark’s gospel.

In his final prophecy (Mark 10:33-34), he gives specific details of his sufferings.

The first half of the prediction mentioned in verse 33 speaks of the Sanhedrin’s role delivering him over to the Gentiles.

This is fulfilled in Mark 14:53-65.

The second half of the prediction mentioned in Mark 14:34 speaks of the role of the Gentiles in Christ’s sufferings.

Several prophecies in Mark 10:33b-34 is fulfilled in Mark 15:15-20.

Jesus prophesied that the religious leaders will deliver Jesus to the Gentiles in Mark 10:33 and we see its fulfillment in Mark 15:15.

Jesus said that the Gentiles “will mock him” (Mark 10:34) and we see its fulfillment in Mark 15:20.

Jesus prophesied that the Gentiles will spit on him in Mark 10:34 and we see its fulfillment in Mark 15:19.

Jesus prophesied that the Gentiles will flog him in Mark 10:34 and we see its fulfillment in Mark 15:15.

When Jesus went through an illegal trial before the Sanhedrin, they mocked his divine status (“prophesy!” Mark 14:65).

After Jesus went through the trial before Pilate, he was mocked for his royal status (“Hail, King of the Jews!” Mark 15:18).

Even in this passage, the irony continues.

Just as the high priest and Pilate acknowledge Jesus’ true identity, even the soldiers unknowingly acknowledge his identity in word (Mark 15:18) and deed (Mark 15:19).

Humans bear witness to God even when they rebel against him.

FALLEN CONDITION FOCUS: Already dealt with.

THE PURPOSE BRIDGE: To inform the members of EAGC as to how Jesus was physically abused and mocked and help them to respond to his sacrifice.

CENTRAL PROPOSITION OF THE SERMON: I have used inductive proposition for this sermon.

I. THE SOLDIERS LEAD JESUS INSIDE THE PRAETORIUM.

Mark 15:16: And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.

Jesus was scourged in front of Herod’s palace in the presence of several people.

Jesus is now led to the praetorium, which was Herod’s palace.

Pilate stayed in the praetorium while he was in Jerusalem.

The Greek word for “battalion” is “speira” and it refers to a tenth of a Roman legion, that is, about 600 men.

Or it could probably refer to all the soldiers who were on duty at that time.

Scholars say that these soldiers were a part of the auxiliary (adjunct) troops who were brought from Caesarea to Jerusalem to maintain law and order during the Passover feast.

These soldiers were non-Jews who were recruited from Israel and other parts of the Roman empire.

Mark tells that this “whole battalion” physically abuse and mock Jesus.

II. THE SOLDIERS PHYSICALLY ABUSE AND MOCK JESUS.

Mark 15:17-20a.

Mark 15:17: And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.

A purple cloak symbolized royalty.

Purple dye was imported from Tyre and was expensive.

Only the wealthy could afford a purple cloak.

Some scholars say that this purple cloak refers to a soldier’s red cloak which had faded (cf. Matthew 27:28).

So, the soldiers put on a purple cloak on Jesus’ bleeding back which must have been very painful.