Description Jesus is stripped of his own clothing by the governors soldiers and dressed in a scarlet toga. The soldiers fashion a crownnot from laurel leavesbut from thorns. The reed used to beat Jesus is then put in his hand as a scepter. The soldiers kneel before Jesus and mock him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Statements of condemnation, threat, and anger surround him. Though he is in the pose of a criminal, he is bound only by obedience to God and love for humanity.