Matthew 27:27-31. Crown of thorns!! Lent 2010
{27} Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. {28} They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, {29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. {30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. {31} 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.
This evening our focus is drawn to the crown of thorns that was placed on the head of our Lord and the attitude and actions that surround it. Again, we cannot help but be astounded at how crude, sadistic and arrogant we as human beings are: and on the other how this crown of thorns truly signified our Lords attitude and actions toward us. Again, this surely draws us to humble submission and absolute awe and gratitude toward our God for what he has done for us.
Think about what is happening here to Jesus. He has just been found innocent of any charges against him; and yet Pilate washes his hands and allows to Jews to have him crucified. Now men hover around him and make fun of him. Even worse than that, they cruelly and sadistically dress him up in a purple robe and a crown of thorns and hoot and jeer this one who in reality is the true king of the whole world.
He did nothing against the soldiers, or anyone for that matter, and yet they take the opportunity to physically and emotionally beat him up. The whole issue of bullying was obviously just as prevalent then as it is now. Just because the opportunity is there to have fun at someone else’s expense, and can make themselves look great by beating up on someone else and putting them down, they take it.
Simply because he agreed with Pilate when he asked him if he was the ‘king of the Jews,’ they now ‘drag him through the mud.’ They put a crown of thorns on his head and mock him intensely. A crown of thorns; can you imagine that? Not just the symbolism of it, but the reality of having the long, spiky thorns being pushed and smashed into your scalp, causing excruciating pain and blood to flow freely. What a way to hail someone was to be king of the Jews. What a way to crown some one for such an important position as a king.
Again, we can look with scorn on these people who did this: we can look at them as being something less than human, but the reality is that we are no different. We today are no better. Have you taken any notice of the media in recent months and it s revelation of the bullying that is going on today amongst our young people. It is horrific what we can and do do to our fellow human beings. Remember our young people are only copying what we adults have taught them and encouraged them to do.
But not only is bullying there in us all and comes out often in very sneaky and sadistic ways, but the attitude that we have to this one who is ‘king of the Jews’ is even more of a concern. Do we accept him fully as king in our lives, or do we also put a ‘crown of thorns’ on him. Every time we do what we want to do in our lives rather than do what our Lord would want, are we not ramming another spiky thorn into our Lord’s head? Every time we change God’s Word to suit ourselves and popular opinion, are we not doing the same? Are we not making a mockery of our Lord when we stay home from church, simply because we want to do something else? Here I could go on and on, but the reality of our lives is just as bad. And we should know better.
But this again highlights the fact that there is a serious flaw in our nature: sin. It has infected each and every one of us. All of us are turned in on ourselves: all of us make a mockery of our relationships with one another and with our God: all of us bring death on ourselves and one another because of our sin. Not one of us can hold our heads up. We are all responsible for the crown of thorns on our Lord’s head.
But again, when we look to the central character here, Jesus, we find that which is truly amazing. He not only allowed this to happen to him, but he came into our world knowing that this was the way it would be. Jesus allows rejection, mockery, suffering and even death to be placed on himself. Even though he is the king of the Jews; Even though he is God almighty himself, he allows the crown of thorns to not only be placed on his head, but to have the spikes rammed into his skull. This is absolutely extraordinary!
This is unbelievable that Jesus; God’s Son, should allow this to happen to himself. Particularly when we consider that not one of us is without sin. Every one of us is responsible for the bullying, mockery, the thorny spikes and the death that he suffered. Yet he does!
He takes the crown of thorns on himself and he goes to the cross. There on the cross; his throne, the sign acknowledges for all: here is Jesus the King of the Jews; the King of us all. He takes his place there on his throne and rules over us all. He declares once more, God’s judgement for the sins of us all: death. But then comes the most amazing declaration of all: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Remember that included you and I. He dies our death so that God would forgive us. With his crown of thorns on his head, he makes this most amazing pronouncement and then does what is necessary for this to be a possibility. The King truly does reign supreme, even though it goes against everything that we human beings would consider to be reasonable and acceptable. We look for a theology glory, but find a theology of the cross that is truly remarkable and awe-inspiring.
But I guess the question is, are we going to accept all of this? Are we prepared to acknowledge that we are responsible for his death? Are we willing to receive the forgiveness that he extends to us? And are we prepared to take up the way of suffering that comes from following the Lord Jesus? Important questions for us to ponder over and come to terms with. To reject and turn our backs on what we have before us now, is to place this salvation and hope that has been extended to us, in jeopardy.
But remember, here the King has had his crown placed on him and has taken up his position on the throne and declared this most wondrous good news. To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
{27} Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. {28} They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, {29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. {30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. {31} 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.
This evening our focus is drawn to the crown of thorns that was placed on the head of our Lord and the attitude and actions that surround it. Again, we cannot help but be astounded at how crude, sadistic and arrogant we as human beings are: and on the other how this crown of thorns truly signified our Lords attitude and actions toward us. Again, this surely draws us to humble submission and absolute awe and gratitude toward our God for what he has done for us.
Think about what is happening here to Jesus. He has just been found innocent of any charges against him; and yet Pilate washes his hands and allows to Jews to have him crucified. Now men hover around him and make fun of him. Even worse than that, they cruelly and sadistically dress him up in a purple robe and a crown of thorns and hoot and jeer this one who in reality is the true king of the whole world.
He did nothing against the soldiers, or anyone for that matter, and yet they take the opportunity to physically and emotionally beat him up. The whole issue of bullying was obviously just as prevalent then as it is now. Just because the opportunity is there to have fun at someone else’s expense, and can make themselves look great by beating up on someone else and putting them down, they take it.
Simply because he agreed with Pilate when he asked him if he was the ‘king of the Jews,’ they now ‘drag him through the mud.’ They put a crown of thorns on his head and mock him intensely. A crown of thorns; can you imagine that? Not just the symbolism of it, but the reality of having the long, spiky thorns being pushed and smashed into your scalp, causing excruciating pain and blood to flow freely. What a way to hail someone was to be king of the Jews. What a way to crown some one for such an important position as a king.
Again, we can look with scorn on these people who did this: we can look at them as being something less than human, but the reality is that we are no different. We today are no better. Have you taken any notice of the media in recent months and it s revelation of the bullying that is going on today amongst our young people. It is horrific what we can and do do to our fellow human beings. Remember our young people are only copying what we adults have taught them and encouraged them to do.
But not only is bullying there in us all and comes out often in very sneaky and sadistic ways, but the attitude that we have to this one who is ‘king of the Jews’ is even more of a concern. Do we accept him fully as king in our lives, or do we also put a ‘crown of thorns’ on him. Every time we do what we want to do in our lives rather than do what our Lord would want, are we not ramming another spiky thorn into our Lord’s head? Every time we change God’s Word to suit ourselves and popular opinion, are we not doing the same? Are we not making a mockery of our Lord when we stay home from church, simply because we want to do something else? Here I could go on and on, but the reality of our lives is just as bad. And we should know better.
But this again highlights the fact that there is a serious flaw in our nature: sin. It has infected each and every one of us. All of us are turned in on ourselves: all of us make a mockery of our relationships with one another and with our God: all of us bring death on ourselves and one another because of our sin. Not one of us can hold our heads up. We are all responsible for the crown of thorns on our Lord’s head.
But again, when we look to the central character here, Jesus, we find that which is truly amazing. He not only allowed this to happen to him, but he came into our world knowing that this was the way it would be. Jesus allows rejection, mockery, suffering and even death to be placed on himself. Even though he is the king of the Jews; Even though he is God almighty himself, he allows the crown of thorns to not only be placed on his head, but to have the spikes rammed into his skull. This is absolutely extraordinary!
This is unbelievable that Jesus; God’s Son, should allow this to happen to himself. Particularly when we consider that not one of us is without sin. Every one of us is responsible for the bullying, mockery, the thorny spikes and the death that he suffered. Yet he does!
He takes the crown of thorns on himself and he goes to the cross. There on the cross; his throne, the sign acknowledges for all: here is Jesus the King of the Jews; the King of us all. He takes his place there on his throne and rules over us all. He declares once more, God’s judgement for the sins of us all: death. But then comes the most amazing declaration of all: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Remember that included you and I. He dies our death so that God would forgive us. With his crown of thorns on his head, he makes this most amazing pronouncement and then does what is necessary for this to be a possibility. The King truly does reign supreme, even though it goes against everything that we human beings would consider to be reasonable and acceptable. We look for a theology glory, but find a theology of the cross that is truly remarkable and awe-inspiring.
But I guess the question is, are we going to accept all of this? Are we prepared to acknowledge that we are responsible for his death? Are we willing to receive the forgiveness that he extends to us? And are we prepared to take up the way of suffering that comes from following the Lord Jesus? Important questions for us to ponder over and come to terms with. To reject and turn our backs on what we have before us now, is to place this salvation and hope that has been extended to us, in jeopardy.
But remember, here the King has had his crown placed on him and has taken up his position on the throne and declared this most wondrous good news. To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
posted by Roger at
3:35 pm
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