Compare Mark 15:17's mockery with Isaiah 53:3's prophecy of the suffering servant. Scripture Texts • Mark 15:17 – “They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on Him.” • Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Prophetic Portrait vs. Historical Event • Isaiah 53:3 foretells how the Servant would be: – Despised – Rejected – Considered worthless (“we esteemed Him not”) • Mark 15:17 records the soldiers’ mock coronation: – Purple robe (royal color, used sarcastically) – Crown of thorns (painful mock crown) – Public humiliation before onlookers Shared Themes • Rejection and Contempt – Isaiah: “despised … rejected.” – Mark: soldiers ridicule, crowd later shouts “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13). • False Estimation – Isaiah: “we esteemed Him not.” – Mark: robe and thorns mock His claim to kingship, treating Him as a joke rather than as Messiah (cf. Luke 23:11). • Suffering in Silence – Isaiah: Servant bears grief without protest (Isaiah 53:7). – Mark: Jesus endures the mockery silently (Mark 15:5). Broader Scriptural Links • Psalm 22:6-7—“I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.” • John 1:10-11—Even His own “did not receive Him.” • Hebrews 12:2—He “endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Theological Significance • Fulfillment: Mark shows Isaiah’s prophecy coming to life; the mockery is not random abuse but scripted by God’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23). • Substitution: The “crown of thorns” recalls the curse of Genesis 3:18; Jesus absorbs the curse in our place (Galatians 3:13). • Kingship Revealed through Humility: The very act meant to belittle Him confirms His royal identity; ultimate exaltation follows (Philippians 2:8-9). Takeaway for Believers • Expect and endure misunderstanding for Christ’s sake (2 Timothy 3:12). • Value what the world despises—God’s wisdom is hidden in apparent weakness (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • Worship the King who wore a crown of thorns before He wears the crown of glory (Revelation 19:11-16). |
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