Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Jesus was made a spectacle of the way a wild animal at a circus is. These soldiers had never had such a prominent, innocent man to prepare for crucifixion. And they relished the violence.

Twisted thorns and sticks to the head served to create excruciating pain. He was likely whipped with a “cat of nine tails”. It is a brutal weapon meant to tear the flesh to the bone. This was the flogging by Roman soldiers.

All the while, he persevered to sacrifice himself for the love of a people who were trapped in sin, and separated from God, many of whom shouted for his crucifixion. Such an incredible love was never heard of before or after.

Lord Jesus, how my heart hurts for the torture, the pain, the insults and persecution laid on you. You gladly put up with it all to save me. I am so very grateful!