Hail, King of the Jews!

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Icon of Christ the Bridegroom.  On the right we read in Greek, "Behold the Man!"

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person.  You see to it."  And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."  Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. 

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.  And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.  And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.  And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. 

- Matthew 27:24-31

 On Saturday, we read that after the chief priests and elders had given Him over to the Roman state, Jesus stood before the governor, Pilate.  And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.  Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wishes.  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas!"  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person.  You see to it."  And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."  Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.  We notice Pilate's clearly stated opinion regarding Jesus.  However, he gives in to the crowds and the agitation of the religious leadership.  My study bible remarks on the people's answer to Pilate ("His blood be on us and our children") that this verse has been used by certain groups to try to justify persecution of Jews, which is a grave and terrible sin.  What was seen by many as a curse is in fact a blessing which is unwittingly invoked:  Christ's blood is the source of redemption.  Moreover, the same words, it says, are implicitly spoken by anyone who sins.  St. John Chrysostom teaches that although this crowd "acted with such madness, so far from confirming a sentence on them or their children, Christ instead received those who repented and counted them worthy of good things beyond number."  St. Chrysostom then also goes on to note the thousands of Jews converted in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) as evidence of Christ's mercy.  Christians are constantly reminded that Judgment is in the hands of God; moreover, each of us could be a member of such a crowd, and we are taught by Christ to be on guard against the possibility of false leaders (24:5).

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.  And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.  And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.  And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.  My study bible comments here that every king is proclaimed by his soldiers.  Although the intention here is to mock Christ, it is nevertheless prophetic that Jesus should be crowned and hailed as King by soldiers of the governor (see also John 11:49-51, where Caiaphas unwittingly prophesies of Christ's redemptive work).  The mockery of Christ shows Him as the One who is despised and rejected by human beings, but who bears the iniquity of all of us (see Isaiah 53:3-9).   Jesus is clothed in scarlet; according to my study bible this represents both His royalty and also the sins of humanity which He has taken upon Himself. 

How would you endure mockery or humiliation for the sake of those you loved?  Or for the sake of those who might come after -- and be saved through faith?  It is poignant at this stage to recall Christ's question in Luke's Gospel, when He asks, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).  We could infer from this question that even at this moment of mockery and humiliation, and as He goes to His death, being sentenced by the crowd to be crucified, that even now at the moment when He faces death He cannot be certain that the faith for which He puts His life on the line will be received by the people of the world.  So, even though He cannot be certain that at His Second Coming He will find faith on the earth, He still goes as the Father has commanded.  He still follows the plan for salvation for all people of this world, to bring people back into communion with God.  Let us remember what John's Gospel has told us, that all of this happens "for God so loved the world."  Christ endures mocking, scourging, suffering, and crucifixion for the sake of love, for those whom He loves, and we are those whom he loves.  If there are ever times when we doubt the reality of God's love for us, of Christ's love for us, all we need to do is to revisit this scene, and re-read the story of what He goes through for love of us.  Possibly we can't relate to His great sacrifice of love unless we also have those whom we love and are willing to suffer for, such as a child, a spouse, a parent, or a true friend.  Possibly soldiers on the battlefield come to understand something of what it means to suffer for those whom you love, even to lose one's life for one's friends.  We have to come to terms with Christ's love for us and His sacrifice for us by reckoning with the power of that love, and by accepting the tremendous sacrifice He was willing to endure so that we would be saved in His love.  Surely, in considering the power in His sacrifice for love, we can come to terms with our deep need for Him and for what He offers us.  What will the world sacrifice for you?  Who will always go to the mat for you, and face the struggle of enduring humiliation, scorn by His own people, mockery, suffering, death?  Do you know someone who would do that for you?  Yes, at the top of the list there is this One, this Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior, who endured all of this for you and for me.  He is the One who most certainly loves us.  He is the One who is worthy of all of our trust, as He is loyal right down the line.  When the world does not offer alternatives for trust and love, let us turn to Him, for He is always calling us into communion.  He is always ready to lead, to teach us how to live, to show us the way -- for He has already endured everything for the sake of saving our lives to be with Him and to have life more abundantly.  As we read that Jesus is led away to be crucified, let us ask ourselves where could we find greater love?   Above is posted the icon known as Christ the Bridegroom, for Christ the prisoner is our Bridegroom.  He is bound to us in love, making all sacrifice for His Bride, the Church, even to suffer humiliation.  This is also the icon of marriage, and the tremendous humility of deep love.  When we feel the world does not love, let us remember there is One who has loved us so much that He gave His life that we might live and be with Him.