The soldiers’ assignment was simple. Take the Nazarene to the hill and kill him. But they wanted to have some fun first. Strong, armed soldiers circled an exhausted, nearly dead, Galilean carpenter and beat up on him. The beating was commanded. The crucifixion was ordered. But the spitting?
Spitting isn’t intended to hurt the body—it can’t. Spitting is intended to degrade the soul, and it does. Ever done that? Maybe you haven’t spit on anyone, but have you gossiped? Raised your hand in anger? Ever made someone feel bad so you would feel good?
Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 that the way we treat others is how we treat Jesus!
From He Chose the Nails