John 19:1-6
 
John 19:1 (KJB)
Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
 
Here is where Pilate made the big mistake. He shows that he is truly a weak leader and in fear of the mob. If he found no fault in Jesus, then he should have not have acquiesced to the mob and had Jesus scourged. This scourging meant that Pilate was now committed to the destruction of Jesus. In ancient Rome, before a condemned prisoner was sent to be crucified they were scourged with a Roman Scourge. The scourge had several strips of leather and in those leather strips were tied pieces of bone, glass, and lead. The impact of the scourge on the human body has been compared to a shotgun blast at close range. The scourge would cause a massive amount of bleeding as the lashes would hit the back and penetrate to artery depth. The pain was excruciating, in fact, many prisoners died under the scourge. The scourge created a horrible mess out of the body of the prisoner and Rome did this to send a message to others that if they go against Rome, then this would be their similar fate.
 
John 19:2 (KJB)
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
 
Then after they had scourged Jesus, they placed a crown of thorns on his head. These thorns would not have been like the small ones we see on a rose bush but they would be long thorns which grew in Palestine. When this was placed on the head of Jesus, the soldiers would have pressed it down on the pate of the head and this would have been extremely painful plus it would cause much bleeding. Then they placed a purple robe on Jesus which they did because they were mocking Him. This robe was a symbol of Jesus being a King as they continued to mock Him. This robe would have also caused Jesus much more pain because the robe would adhere itself to the wounds made by the scourge. When they took the robe off, it was ripped off and the pain would have been like a second scourging.
 
John 19:3 (KJB)
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
 
As He wore the crown of thorns and the purple robe, the people in attendance were mocking Him by calling Him the King of the Jews. His wounds with the whip and thorns were not enough for this blood thirsty crowd, many had struck Him with their hands and with their fists. What humiliation the Lord endured to gain our salvation!
 
John 19:4 (KJB)
Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
Here is the two faced judgment style of Pilate. He now brings Jesus out to the crowd bloody and in much pain and humiliation and then says that he still finds no fault in Jesus. He thought maybe the scourging and seeing Jesus being mocked with the crown of thorns would pacify this blood thirsty crowd. If Pilate had found no fault with Jesus, then what was He being punished for? Pilate was a weak ruler and did what he could to appease the crowd but it was to be of no use because their minds were made up. We must always keep in mind that these people were doing the will of God because Jesus had to die for our salvation.
 
John 19:5 (KJB)
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
 
Then Pilate brings Jesus out in front of the crowd with the robe and crown and was hoping that the crowd may have pity on Jesus and would let Him go without further ado. Pilate would have said to the crowd on presenting Jesus “Ecce Homo” which in Latin means “Behold the man.” Pilate, seeing the demeanor of the crowd would not have said, even in a mocking manner, here is your king because that would have further incited the crowd. Pilate wanted to quiet this crowd and end this situation as fast as possible.
 
John 19:6 (KJB)
When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
 
Nothing was going to quell this crowd. The only thing that would quiet this crowd is when Jesus would be crucified. The fact that Jesus was scourged and bloody was not enough for the chief priests and the others. They wanted Him crucified and Pilate again stating that he found no fault in Jesus told the Jews to crucify Him themselves. The two usages of the word “crucify” in this verse are both in the Imperative mood which means the Jews were demanding action that Jesus be crucified. They were not suggesting, they were demanding. Pilate did not want to be responsible for the death of Jesus because he would be condemning an innocent man which was against the law and abuse of his power.

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