Monday, March 14, 2005
John 19:1-2 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.
CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL
See His crown woven from thorns by a laughing soldier, intended to make your Lord look ridiculous. Instead it emphasizes their cruelty and His commitment, His self-sacrifice, His inner majesty.
He wore this crown of pain so that (as Peter notes) when He comes in glory "you will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away" (1 Peter 5:4).
He wore this crown of ridicule so that you might say with Paul the Apostle: "There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day (of) his appearing" (2 Tim 4:8).
He wore this crown of death so that you faithful to Him even unto death might receive the crown of life (Rev 2:10).
See your Savior here; though He is innocent He has been smitten and afflicted so that you might not receive the punishment which your sins deserve.
See your King with a soldier's cast-off cloak, a red garment not His own. Know that on His soul is draped another blood-red covering that is not His own because it's yours -- old and dirty and red as scarlet -- your sins. They threw a robe of ridicule on Him, a robe of unrighteousness. He took it so that you might be covered with the mantle of His mercy, the robe of His righteousness.
See your King paying the price for your self-centered ambition and sinful pride. He has a stick shoved into His bound hands -- a mock scepter. He accepts it -- and the blows that follow so that we might live and reign with Him eternally. 