Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The issue was the robe. The robe spoke of authority. They needed to show who is in authority. They mocked Christ our Lord saying that authority still belonged to them. They were concerned about the robe that they were wearing. They were afraid that their authority will be taken away from them so, they showed these evil tantrums. Evil men haven't changed much. Even now, they are concerned about the robes they are wearing to deceive everyone, as though they belonged to God and everyone else belong to the Devil. Let us tell you plainly, it's the other way around. The robe didn't show anything. Their authority was evil authority. Read the whole chapter of Matthew 27 again and again. Even Pilate's wife tried to stop him from having anything to do with the crucifixion of Christ but she couldn't stop it. Who had more evil influence over the king? Read it! It was about the robe they were wearing. They could not stand any challenge to their evil authority. They were afraid that their robes will be taken away from them. Robes meant authority. They were afraid that their evil authority over men will be taken away from them. They won't be able to have power to deceive others for financial gains and satisfying their evil pleasures.They used that authority to gain wealth and evil power over others. Now, that was challenged and they could not accept it. Things haven't changed much today, either! The issue was the robes that they are wearing to deceive others. Do not believe or trust them when they say that they are serving God. They are are only serving their own pleasures. They will use anyone and anything to safeguard their own interests. Real selfish and wicked men in evil robes who disguise themselves to be servants of righteousness when they are clearly servants of wickedness. Real authority was shown to them by the Lord Jesus Christ when He rose from the dead. The evil rulers and powers thought that they had destroyed God's temple but on the third day it was raised to life again.That's true, eternal authority and who can challenge that authority? Pilate, Herod or whoever was involved are all gone forever and ever into condemnation but the Lord Jesus Christ lives on triumphantly forever and ever. So will everyone who believes and obeys Him. Don't be easily fooled by their robes. If you dare, take off your robes and then come and make that point, you coward!
Mark 12:38-40
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
