The Reproach and the Scorn

This particular part was when Jesus was first arrested. He was taken to a place where the scourging was done. Roman soldiers were trained to be brutal. This is one reason Rome was able to control the world. The Iron Eagle was its symbol. Imagine putting people in arenas with wild beasts to devour them all in the name of sports. People enjoyed watching it. Slaves were pitted against gladiators to the death. Rome knew no mercy.

We read Matthew’s account of what was done to Jesus. In Psalm 69 we see how Jesus was feeling at this time because it was prophesied before it happened. The words used to describe this are reproach and scorn. Think about these words and consider Jesus’ feelings. Looking at it and thinking about it is necessary to appreciation of our salvation. It helps give us a glimpse of the anguish of body, soul, and spirit that Jesus experienced. He suffered almost beyond our comprehension. He deserved no reproach, yet he took it for us. He took our reproach. That’s why by his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 27: ²⁷Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. ²⁸And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. ²⁹And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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! ³⁰And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. ³¹And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Psalm 69: ⁹For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

What a shameful spectacle we see in Matthew’s account. What more could they have done to Jesus? The Sanhedrin mocked him and smacked him around. The scourging meant 40 stripes; many couldn’t survive that. Jesus suffered all that and remained standing. Imagine the horror and pain. Jesus had never done wrong, yet he was attached to a post and beaten. The Sanhedrin knew he hadn’t done anything wrong; they just wanted to be rid of him. Yet He changed history. He knew what was ahead for him. He realized it was our cross. It was our just punishment. We do the reproaching of God, yet Jesus took our place so that we wouldn’t have to feel the pain and receive the punishment.

He was stripped of his clothes. Thorns were plaited into a crown and beat into his head. They mocked him. Scorn means to have angry contempt for someone else. To be a reproach means to bring a bad name on oneself or another. Words, deeds, or actions are used as the means to give a bad name to someone with a good name. The name of Jesus is the purest in history, but it was turned into an insult. He was seen as a threat, not as the valuable person he was. He was considered worthless and disdained. He was laughed at and spat on as if he was no good.

They didn’t let up even as he hung on the cross. Except for a few of his own followers, he found no pity. He hurt inside and out. He was in agony. That crown of thorns hurt. You know it did. He was King. The only one worthy to be crowned King of Kings is Jesus Christ. When they bowed down and mocked him, they made fun of his love and grace. Little did they know he really did have a scepter. He took the feelings, physical and emotional, so we wouldn’t have to do it for ourselves—so we wouldn’t have to suffer. All he had given in 33 years was himself completely. He opened his arms to all. He never turned anyone away. This day he was considered worthless.

How often I have brought reproach to the Lord by my actions or words. We bring a slur to his name when we act contrary to what we profess. It’s a serious matter to be a Christian. His suffering was totally undeserved. The sinner in the soldiers is the sinner in me. We avoid and ignore him. Our reproach had to be borne, and Jesus was willing to be the outcast for us. He deserved the best throne, but look what he got. The soldiers were typical of Adam’s race. If they had been honest with themselves, each one would have crowned himself. They threw it on Jesus. It was our whipping post, our Calvary, but praise God a Savior came and took our place. He let the reproach fall on him.

Psalm 69:20 says reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. Our sins and the reproach that comes with them were terrible. His heart was broken. Every time I sin I bring reproach. I break his heart. He had no respite, not one moment of mercy. He bore it all, every last sin, every last reproach until it was accomplished. Then he said it is finished.

Psalm 69:30, 32: I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

The goal of Easter for a Christian is to bring it to a reality so we can feel and taste what he went through. When we do this, it melts our spirit and causes us to seek after him. Because the reproach fell on Jesus, we can be free. Let’s be true to him. One day we will see him crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

For now, let’s crown him with our love. Let him rule our lives. Let’s bow to him and humble ourselves every day and proclaim him King by what we say and do.