John 19:2-3 says, “And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. Then they said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they struck him with their hands.” With his back torn open from flogging (v. 1), soldiers continued tormenting Jesus. First a crown of thorns to mock and injure him simultaneously. These were ~12 inch thorns requiring thick leather gloves. They cut into Jesus’ scalp as a soldier pressed it on causing major bleeding. This crown identified him as the one to take the curse for and from mankind symbolized by thorns (Genesis 3:18). Next came the purple robe. More torment. Purple was the color of royalty. His ‘crime’ was “King of the Jews” (18:33, 36). The soldiers had no idea that their behavior fulfilled Scripture. Since we do, let’s honor our King with our lives today.