Book of Mark - Chapter 15 - Verse 20
Meaning
When Jesus was mocked and humiliated by the soldiers before his crucifixion, it serves as a stark reminder of the cruelty and inhumanity that he endured as part of his sacrifice for humanity. The act of stripping him of the purple robe, a symbol of royalty and power, and replacing it with his own clothes was meant to further degrade and belittle him. This moment encapsulates the physical and emotional torment that Jesus went through as he was led to his crucifixion. It also highlights the contrast between the earthly power and authority that Jesus could have claimed, and the humility and submission to God's will that he chose to demonstrate. Ultimately, this verse demonstrates the lengths to which Jesus was willing to go in order to fulfill his mission of redemption and salvation for all mankind.
Theological Overview
Upon closer theological interpretation of this verse, the act of removing the purple robe from Jesus and putting his own clothes back on him right before leading him to be crucified carries significant symbolism. The purple robe symbolized the mockery and false royalty imposed upon Jesus by the soldiers, trying to belittle him as the King of the Jews. However, by stripping him of the purple robe and dressing him in his own clothes, the soldiers unknowingly affirmed his true identity as the Son of God. This act can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus shedding his earthly form to reveal his divine nature, ready to fulfill the ultimate purpose of his sacrificial death on the cross for the redemption of humanity.