I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that
plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and
spitting.--Isaiah l. 6.
For the fulfilment of this prophecy, we have only to go back to
the hall Prætorium, where we behold the blessed Jesus surrounded
by a band of Roman soldiers, who treat him with every species of
indignity. Not content with having scourged him, (a punishment
considered too ignoble to be inflicted on a free born Roman)[73]
they proceed to insult his Kingly Office. The purple robe, the reedy
sceptre, the crown of thorns, the bended knee, and the salutation,
"Hail, King of the Jews," are all used in mockery. What cruelty,
mixed with insult, was here; had sport only been intended, a crown
of reeds had sufficed. But no, it must be a crown of thorns, and
that not gently placed on his head, but its sharp points were
forcibly struck in. His Prophetical Office is next profaned, by
blindfolding and smiting him on the face, crying, prophesy who it
was that smote thee. They even dare to spit in his face, which by
every people is considered the greatest indignity that can be
offered, but especially so by the Jewish nation, amongst whom, if
a father did but spit in his daughter's face, she was treated as
unclean seven days.[74] The Romans were accustomed to present a
civic crown, composed of oak leaves, to him who had saved the life
of a fellow citizen, but when Jesus literally laid down his life to
save from everlasting death a countless multitude, whom no man can
number, of the citizens of earth, no such civic honours were awarded
him. When our first parents apostatized from God, the earth was
cursed for their sake, and made to bring forth briars and thorns,
but Jesus only, of Adam's race, was ever crowned with thorns. What
a spectacle for the angels of light to witness! The God of glory
insulted and mocked by worms of the earth! To behold that sacred
face, before which they were wont to bow with adoration and love,
covered with shame and spitting. But the season of sorrow and of
suffering is now past, and Jesus, the Son of the Most High, is
receiving the just reward of his sufferings and humiliation.[75]
That head, torn and lacerated by the rugged thorn, is now adorned
with many crowns, and that face, once obscured by shame and
spitting, now shines with refulgent brightness.
[73] Romans xvi. 37.
[74] Numbers xii. 14.
[75] Isaiah xl. 10.