First, the soldiers mock Jesus (16-20). After Pilate finished with Jesus, he was taken to the Praetorium. There, a whole company of soldiers mocked Jesus' kingship. They put a purple robe on him, a crown of thorns, and said, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' They didn't know the irony that their mockery was, in fact, the truth. After they had beaten him severely, they took him out to be crucified. Second, Jesus was crucified (21-32). The soldiers drafted Simon the Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross because he was too weak to carry it himself. They took him to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. There they offered him wine mixed with myrrh for pain, which he refused. Then they nailed him to the cross. They put up a sign which said, 'THE KING OF THE JEWS', and crucified two rebels alongside him. Those who passed by, and those crucified with him, hurled insults at him. Could Jesus have saved himself? The question is moot, for Jesus would not have saved himself. He died on the cross in obedience to his Father, to save us from our sins.
Application: Father, thank you so much that Jesus was willingly crucified, that we might be saved. Thank you that Jesus went through all the pain and suffering for us.
One Word: Jesus was crucified for us all