Mark 15:16-20 – Jesus Is Mocked

Mark 15:17

1. The soldiers mockingly dress Jesus as a king and greet him as they greeted the Roman emperor.
2. Jesus wearing the crown of thorns symbolizes that he bears the curse that mankind had to bear because of Adam’s sin (Genesis 3:17-18).

Mark 15:19

1. According to John, the Romans scourged Jesus (John 19:1).
   1. When the Romans scourged those who were to be crucified, they tied the prisoner up and beat him with sticks or lashed him with sharp objects that tore the skin.
   1. That Jesus was severely scourged is shown by the fact that he could not carry his cross all the way himself (Mark 15:21).