Some began to spit in His face, to pull a covering over His head, to strike Him with their fists, and to say, “Prophesy to us, You Christ, who is it that struck You?” And the servants were also slapping Him.
Here human contempt reaches a dreadful level. Spitting, covering His face, striking Him, and the mocking words “Prophesy!” reveal the hatred of a sinful heart toward holiness. They ridicule His prophetic authority, yet in that very ridicule they unwillingly fulfill the prophetic words about the suffering Messiah. Christ endures not only physical pain, but also contempt and humiliation. He before whom the angels worship allows people to slap Him, so that He may take upon Himself human disgrace and the shame of sin.