Jesus had previously been mocked by the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:67, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63) and is about to be mocked by the Gentiles. Pilate undoubtedly does not scourge Jesus himself, but gives orders for it to happen. Scourging was standard practice before a crucifixion and by Roman practice had no limitations such as the 39 stripes maximum for a Jewish scourging (2 Cor 11:24). Jewish scourging was done with either rods or a whip with knots tied in the cords. The Roman form was with a whip composed of several thongs, each of which was loaded with pieces of metal or bone. The result was a severe ripping of the flesh on the back of the one receiving the punishment. It was often fatal and at all times severe. Josephus tells us of a Jesus, son of Ananias, who was “flayed to the bone with scourges” and Eusebius relates that certain martyrs about the time of Polycarp “were torn by scourges down to deep-seated veins and arteries, so that the hidden contents of the recesses of their bodies, their entrails and organs, were exposed to sight” (EH iv, 15, 4). An amazing aspect of the telling in the gospels of this treatment of Jesus is that it is spoken of with but one word, “scourging” and is not pursued in any detail at all. There is no attempt to play upon the emotions of the reader!

Matthew 26:67  Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him

Mark 14:65  Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Luke 22:63  The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.

2 Corinthians 11:24  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

Pilate had already found no basis for any charges against Jesus (18:38), so this scourging was illegal, even by Roman standards. Pilate’s object in the scourging was apparently to arouse pity from the crowd so he could let Him go free (Luke 23:22). Lenski notes that “Jesus was not scourged in order to be crucified but in order to escape crucifixion.” Pilate must have thought that if the crowd were to see how one of their own had been mistreated by their enemies, the Romans, they would surely cry out for His deliverance.

John 18:38  “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Luke 23:22  For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

Jesus suffered scourging for us in fulfillment of scripture (Psa 129:3, Isa 50:6, 53:5, 1Pet 2:24). Jesus was fully aware of this beforehand and had even predicted it (Matt 20:19, Mark 10:34, Luke 18:32).

Psalms 129:3  Ploughmen have ploughed my back and made their furrows long.

Isaiah 50:6  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Isaiah 53:5  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Matthew 20:19  and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Mark 10:34  who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Luke 18:32  He will be turned over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.