Pilate’s soldiers now have Jesus in their hands and so it’s time for cruel fun with this “king of the Jews” who’s been rejected by his own. The scene of their tormenting him is an ugly one which captures how wicked human beings can turn. But running through the account is the thread of God’s work too. In this suffering, in this way of the cross, lies the hope of the world. Through Jesus’ willing sacrifice of himself, life will be given to his people. And Christians are to follow his footsteps by accepting the overspill of his suffering onto themselves: to have a God-trusting willingness to carry a cross for the Lord, even as Simon physically carried Jesus’ for him.
Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash
And here is a short talk based on the same passage: He Changed The World (Episode 66)