Stop 4 - Crowning

Bible Reading
Mark 15: 16-19
Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace (called the Praetorium). They called all the other soldiers together.  They put a purple robe on Jesus. Then they used thorny branches to make a crown. They put it on his head. Then they called out to him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They also spit on him. Then they made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him.

​Reflection
Jesus was treated very badly by the soldiers. They hit him, called him names and made fun of him. They made a crown out of thorns and put it on his head. It would have scratched him and been very uncomfortable. Jesus puts himself in the place of human suffering. He knows what it is like to be bullied for who other people say you are. The soldiers did not know anything about Jesus, and yet they followed the behaviour of the people they looked up to and bullied him. Christians believe that when you are suffering because of what other people think, Jesus is with you. 

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever been bullied by someone else?
• How did it make you feel?
• Have you ever joined in with bullying or been a bully?
• Why did you feel that you needed to do that?
• Jesus tells us that we should love our neighbours as ourselves.
• Ask God to help you to always treat other people as you would like to be treated.