Note the many contrasts throughout this chapter.
V.1 Pilate has examined Jesus and has found Him not guilty, and yet he whips Him.
V.2-3 The soldiers put a crown on His head, but it is a crown of thorns! They say “Hail (or greetings!), King of the Jews!” 6 times He is called King in this chapter. They strike Him with their hands!
V.4-6 Pilate says that he finds no fault in Him. The chief priests reply, “crucify Him, crucify Him!”
V.7 In Luke 22:67,67Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: (Luke 22:67) we read that the chief priests had asked Jesus to tell them if He was the Christ. Here they say that He should die because of what He had said!
V.8-11 Pilate tells Jesus of his power. Jesus replies that he had no power at all! Unless he received it from God.
V.12-15 The Jews hated Caesar, the head of the Roman Empire, and here they want him as a friend!
V.16 Having admitted that Jesus was not guilty, yet he condemns Him to be crucified.
V.18 The Lord of glory, the Creator, is crucified between two thieves.
V.19 After all this, Pilate writes this title and puts it on the cross!
V.23, 24 The blessed Lord Jesus, after all the good He had done, is stripped of His clothes, and nailed to the cross by rough soldiers. They cast lots, like tossing a coin, but they don’t know they are carrying out the scriptures (Psa. 22:1818They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18))! Four times in this chapter it says “that the scripture should be fulfilled.” He the Living Word fulfilled the written Word.
V.32-34 The soldiers see that Jesus is dead and one pierces His side with a spear! The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus is for the sinner. The atoning power of the blood of Jesus is for the throne of God. You will see the first in Leviticus 14; and the second in the 16th chapter. The first satisfied the need for us sinners; the second satisfied the heart of God about sin. The first is for “sins,” the second for “sin.”