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. Then they 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. Matthew 27:28-31

            The list of things done to Jesus on the way to the cross is astounding.

1.      They bound him (shackled, restrained)

2.      They put him through shameful trials

3.      They stripped him naked

4.      Guards mocked him as “king” with a scarlet robe and staff, bowing before him

5.      Guards pushed a crown of thorns on his head

6.      They bashed him in the head with a staff over and over

7.      Many verbally abused

8.      They flogged him

9.      The guards made him carry his cross to the crucifixion through the street

10.  Romans drove nails into his hands and feet

11.  They stripped him publicly and divided up his clothes

12.  The whole process dehydrated him

13.  As he died, Jesus was mocked by rebels on the crosses next to him, strangers walking by, religious leaders

14.  The guard stabbed in the chest by a spear to verify his death

Why so much?  To show the extend of Jesus’ love for us, his willingness to experience so much abuse, and his commitment to die for our sins.