In a moment we will
listen to the dirge that accompanies the procession of the cross. One phrase
that stands out for me speaks of Jesus being robed in “the purple robe of
mockery.” Mockery is the underlying motif of the entire passion narrative. It
is a key element of the scandal of the cross.
From the start, the religious authorities used mockery as
a means to discredit Jesus. That was the authorities’ goal: to discredit Jesus among
the people. The mockery began in earnest before the Sanhedrin: false
accusations, spitting, blindfolding, slapping, and striking him. It continued
with the devious strategy to paint Jesus as a political rebel, playing on the
fears of the Romans and making a kind of mockery of the normal Roman justice
system. The Roman cohort then added its own mockery with a royal crown of
thorns, a purple robe, a reed used as a scepter, and then as a rod to strike Jesus.
The mockery continued at the scene of the crucifixion: “If you are the Son of
God, come down from the cross that we may believe in you.” The goal of all this
was the total humiliation of Jesus, both as a warning by the Romans against any
future rebels, and as a pointed reminder by the authorities that anyone who
hangs on a tree is accursed.
Mockery and humiliation – it is enlightening to see how these
reveal individuals’ and groups’ reactions to the dreadful strategy of the
authorities: for the disciples—flight; for Peter—drawing a sword to attack, and
then denying Jesus; for Judas—despair and suicide; for the daughters of
Jerusalem—weeping; for the crowd – curiosity and then beating their breasts; for
Our Lady – sharing the spear thrust and then her motherhood.
The robe of mockery accompanied Jesus throughout his
passion. But there is one other reaction we should not forget: Nicodemus came to
the tomb with a 100-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes. He came to anoint a king.
Ultimately, this is who we say Jesus is: our king who was spurned and held in
no esteem; our king who was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins—this
is the one who has taken away the sins of many and won pardon for their offenses.
No mockery can change this.
Safet Zec, Deposition, detail, 2014. Dom Vincent's homily for Good Friday.