The Garments of the Saviour

by J. Flanigan (Northern Ireland)

7. THE GARMENT OF MOCKERY

The Saviour is now on His way to the Cross and it is Matthew who writes, “they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe,” Matt.27.28. Mark says, “they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, and began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews,” Mk.15.17. John records that “they put on Him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews!” Jn.19.2-3. It was indeed a robe of mockery, this purple robe. If it was, as many think, a cast-off faded tunic of some Roman soldier, then the original brighter scarlet of the officer’s cloak may have faded to a purplish hue. Others suggest that the term “purple” was, of old, a general description for all shades of red, shades which would vary from scarlet to purple according to the texture of the cloth and the direction and intensity of the light shed upon them. Whichever is true, every believer knows of course, that there can be no discrepancy. Everything harmonises when the full story is known.

The purple robe was but a part of their mockery of our Lord’s Kingship. It was associated with a crown, a sceptre, anointing and homage. Every king wore a crown, and so they platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. He wore it with dignity. Although intended for His dishonour, it was in fact, a Victor’s crown. It has endeared Him to those who love Him, and with deep affection His people sing —

O head once filled with bruises,
Oppressed with pain and scorn;
O’erwhelmed with sore abuses,
Mocked with a crown of thorn.

All kings had sceptres too. They were symbols of rule, emblems of authority and power. So they gave Him a mocking sceptre, a reed in His right hand. He carried it patiently, knowing, as they did not, that one day He would wield a rod of iron and break His enemies in pieces like as if they were but a potter’s vessel, Ps.2.8. Then, callously, they took the reed and smote Him on the thorn-crowned head, cruelly beating the thorns into His brow. He remained silent, uncomplaining in it all. As Peter later writes, “When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not,” 1Pet.2.23.

The anointing was shameful. Matthew records, “And they spit upon Him,” Matt.27.30. So had they done also in the house of Caiaphas, “Then did they spit in His face.” Matt.26.67. It was a despicable thing and Jew and Gentile alike were guilty of this contempt of the Son of God. Mock homage then followed as they bowed the knee and hailed Him King of the Jews.

But to return to the purple robe. It was early morning, and the Saviour stood silently before the Governor who weakly protested to the people that he could find no fault in Him. “Then came Jesus forth,” John records, “wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe” and then, Pilate’s well known cry. Did it pierce the morning air? “Ecce Homo”! “Behold the Man”! What a sight that was! The King of glory crowned with thorns and robed in mocking purple.

Roman soldiers, of course, were not expected to know that to succeeding generations of Christians there would be a tender, yet powerful, significance in this robe of purple. Many centuries earlier Jehovah had given instructions to His earthly people Israel regarding the building of a Tabernacle in the wilderness. Now this was a portable structure which was carried by the people as they journeyed towards Canaan. There were many vessels and pieces of furniture which had to be transported with due care and reverence, and explicit directions were given concerning these. The largest of all the Tabernacle pieces was the great brazen altar, the Altar of Burnt Offering. On this altar the various sacrifices were consumed while the smoke of the burning ascended in a sweet savour to God.

This great altar foreshadowed Calvary and that one supreme sacrifice and offering which would fulfil and make obsolete all that had gone before, “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” Heb.10.10. As the Altar of Burnt Offering, with all its typical significance, was being carried in the wilderness by the Levites, it was covered with a purple cloth, which was spread upon it, Num.4.13.

How accurate was this ancient type! Covered with a purple cloth, the altar stained with the blood of many victims! Now, in the closing chapters of the Gospels, the Saviour of whom the altar spoke is covered with a purple robe, and is on His way to the place of sacrifice. Perhaps He alone, in that vast crowd, remembered the purple cloth which covered the brazen altar.

Then, says Mark, “When they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him,” Mk.15.20. Whatever happened to that purple robe we do not know. Likely it would now be cast aside as being irrelevant. But believers in the Lord Jesus see the significance of it, and see too, the meaning of that word of the Psalmist, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee,” Ps.76.10. Pagan Roman soldiers covering the Man of Calvary with a purple cloth on His way to the cross! Well did those heavenly visitors on the Mount of Transfiguration speak of His exodus which He would accomplish. He was, Himself, arranging the details of His departure out of the world. He was ordering everything, even to the wearing of that purple cloak in which He was presented by Pilate to the people.

Is this the Saviour’s last earthly garment until loved ones will wrap Him in linen grave clothes at the end of the dark day of crucifixion? Soon they will, at Calvary, take His own garments from Him, and gamble for them at the foot of His cross. Meanwhile, that purple robe lies discarded somewhere. It has served its purpose, and in spite of the evil intentions of men He wore it with honour. The patience and dignity with which He endured the mockery has made Him so precious to His people. In their quiet meditations they envisage Him standing there with Pilate, wearing the purple robe and the crown of thorns, and they love Him the more for all that He has endured. They follow Him with reverent step to the place of His crucifixion and death and they sing as they worship —

O Jesus Lord, how can it be,
That Thou should’st give Thy life for me;
To bear the cross and agony,
In that dread hour on Calvary?

O Calvary! dark Calvary!
Where Jesus gave Himself for me;
O Calvary! blest Calvary!
’Twas there my Saviour died for me.

—to be continued (D.V.)