“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 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.” – Matthew 27:27-31
Brutal. Horrific. Cruel. There are so many words that come to mind in this passage. Words that serve the dual purpose of describing the actions (adverbs) and also describing the soldiers (adjectives). A few verses later, there is a contrasting behavior:
“They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.“ – Mt. 27:33-34
Wine mixed with gall was used to numb pain. Why? What’s the point? Crucifixion is one of the most gruesome, horrific, painful deaths inflicted by the Romans. But then a wine/gall mixture is offered to the condemned. Puzzling behavior to follow on after brutal, cruel behavior. Initially, we see Jesus refuse the wine.
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” – John 19:28-30
Scripture explains Jesus’ actions but does not explain the compassionate actions of the soldiers either in the first or second offering of the wine. Why would they care about the pain of a dead man walking?
Or can there be elements of compassion even in those whose jobs demand callous and even barbaric actions?
Just Sayin' 