Mark 15:16–20 (ESV)
And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
Matthew 27:28–30 (ESV)
And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.
What do the soldiers’ actions (robe, crown, reed, mock worship) tell us about how the world perceives power and authority?
How does this contrast with the kind of authority Jesus actually demonstrates throughout His ministry?
The reed was given as a mock scepter — the symbol of a king’s right to rule. What irony do you see in the fact that Jesus is beaten with the very symbol of His authority?
The Judge of all the earth is judged by His own symbol of justice.
Psalm 45:6–7 (ESV)
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
According to this psalm, what kind of rule does God’s “scepter” represent? How does Jesus embody “the scepter of righteousness” even as He suffers injustice?
Isaiah 53:4–5 (ESV)
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
How do these verses show that Jesus willingly takes the blows of judgment that we deserve?
What does this reveal about the kind of King Jesus is?
Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What do these verses teach about the connection between humility and exaltation?
How does this passage explain what’s really happening in the scene where Jesus is mocked as “King”?
John 18:36–37 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world.” What does this mean in the context of being mocked and beaten?
How should this shape the way we think about “success” or “power” as followers of Jesus?
Romans 8:1–4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Scripture says God has appointed Jesus to judge the world — yet before judging, He was judged in our place. What does this teach us about grace and justice meeting at the cross?
1 Peter 2:21–25 (ESV)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Jesus redefines leadership and greatness. How can His model of servant authority reshape the way we lead — in our homes, workplaces, or ministries?
How does Peter describe our calling to follow in Christ’s footsteps of humble endurance?
What might it look like this week for you to respond to mistreatment with Christlike humility rather than defensiveness or pride?
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
