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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday, April
5, 2023
"The
Crown Of
Thorns"
Message
summary:
This
week we
"consider
Him who
endured such
opposition
from sinful
men." One
of the many
abuses Jesus
endured was
the mocking
crown of
thorns.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (John 19:2,3). “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
“And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (John 19:2,3). “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
Oh
they mocked
Him and they
beat Him
They pressed a crown of thorns upon His head
They pressed a crown of thorns upon His head
The
church we
served in New
England, like
many churches,
has a large
cross on the
front wall
behind the
platform. One
year Steve
Higgins, a
friend who is
still very
active in the
church, made a
crown out of
thorny
branches and
we placed it
on the cross
as a reminder
of the crown
of thorns
forcibly
placed on the
head of our
Saviour during
His passionate
outpouring of
love and
forgiveness
toward all who
place their
faith in Him.
As I recall we
left that
thorny crown
up even beyond
the Easter
season and
perhaps it’s
still there.
We’ve
all probably
been pierced
by thorns at
some point,
especially if
we enjoy
walking in the
woods.
Physically
touching the
long sharp
pointed thorns
enhances one’s
sensitivity of
how such a
crown of
thorns would
painfully
pierce the
brow of our
Lord and
Savior.
The Bible History online site makes this observation:
We’ve
all probably
been pierced
by thorns at
some point,
especially if
we enjoy
walking in the
woods.
Physically
touching the
long sharp
pointed thorns
enhances one’s
sensitivity of
how such a
crown of
thorns would
painfully
pierce the
brow of our
Lord and
Savior.The Bible History online site makes this observation:
“His
crown of
thorns, the
crown that
fallen
humanity
placed on His
head was an
awful symbol
showing man’s
complete
contempt for
all that God
loves and
values. It was
also
emblematic of
our Savior’s
love for all
of us and our
minds which
are deceived
and pained by
so much of
this world’s
lies. Perhaps
it is also a
vicarious
witness that
He bore the
very thorns
created by
man’s original
sin and
rebellion in
the garden, so
that we might
one day wear
the crown of
life and
glory.”
Matthew, Mark and John all mention this degrading act. Matthew makes it clear that it was motivated by mockery. The mock crown was formed by twisting together thorny branches.
We
wonder about
these soldiers
who "twisted
together the
crown of
thorns".
Did they joke
around as they
deviously
fashioned this
makeshift
crown? Did
they curse as
they endured
inevitable
scratches and
pricks while
shaping the
thorny
branches?
Which one of
them creased
the Lord’s
brow with the
crown of
thorns?
Did any of them look on as blood splattered from the penetrating thorns that gouged His head and dripped down upon Jesus’ sacred face as “again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him” (Mark 15:19a)? Did one of the offenders realize that this One they treated so contemptuously was truly innocent?
This crown of thorns was indeed a mockery of His royalty. The soldiers placed it on His head and John indicates that He wore this crown when He came out from His trial with Pilate (John 19:5). Mark describes the blasphemous act of mockers as they “fell on their knees and paid homage to Him” (Mark 15:19b). (Note: Consider this in light of Philippians 2:9-11.)
But the writer of Hebrews writes of a crown that Jesus now wears as a direct result of His sacrificial, atoning death on the Cross. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
Today one of the grand songs of the Church is the hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns”, a likely allusion to another crown in Revelation 4:9-11. Jesus Christ truly endured the enormous indignity of a crown of thorns mockingly placed on His head. Today let us reverently crown Him with many crowns as we place our faith in Him. Let us seek to live in a manner worthy of His sacrifice.
Did any of them look on as blood splattered from the penetrating thorns that gouged His head and dripped down upon Jesus’ sacred face as “again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him” (Mark 15:19a)? Did one of the offenders realize that this One they treated so contemptuously was truly innocent?
This crown of thorns was indeed a mockery of His royalty. The soldiers placed it on His head and John indicates that He wore this crown when He came out from His trial with Pilate (John 19:5). Mark describes the blasphemous act of mockers as they “fell on their knees and paid homage to Him” (Mark 15:19b). (Note: Consider this in light of Philippians 2:9-11.)
But the writer of Hebrews writes of a crown that Jesus now wears as a direct result of His sacrificial, atoning death on the Cross. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
Today one of the grand songs of the Church is the hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns”, a likely allusion to another crown in Revelation 4:9-11. Jesus Christ truly endured the enormous indignity of a crown of thorns mockingly placed on His head. Today let us reverently crown Him with many crowns as we place our faith in Him. Let us seek to live in a manner worthy of His sacrifice.
Crown
Him with many
crowns, the
Lamb upon His
throne...
Crown Him the Lord of Love! Behold His hands and side…
Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o’er the grave…
Crown Him the Lord of heaven! One with the Father known…*
Crown Him the Lord of Love! Behold His hands and side…
Crown Him the Lord of life! Who triumphed o’er the grave…
Crown Him the Lord of heaven! One with the Father known…*
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus, we
crown You the
Lord of love!
Your love that
endured the
shameful
actions of
those You
chose to die
for. We crown
You the Lord
of life, for
You triumphed
o’er the grave
and took away
the permanence
and sting of
death for all
believers. We
crown You the
Lord of heaven
where You
returned to be
One with the
Father. You’ve
promised to
return to
earth again
and take us to
be with You
where we will
dwell
eternally with
You and all
the saints
whose sins are
cleansed by
the blood You
shed on the
cross of
Calvary. Thank
You, Jesus!
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Crown
Him With Many
Crowns" Click
to listen on
YouTube
Kingsway
Music
*
We just shared
the first line
in each verse
at the end of
our message.
"Resurrecting"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
We sing this
song in our
church and as
Brooksyne was
working on her
part of
today's
message
(editing) it
came to mind
due to these
words.
The
head that once
was crowned
with thorns
Is crowned with glory now
The Savior knelt to wash our feet
Now at His feet we bow
Is crowned with glory now
The Savior knelt to wash our feet
Now at His feet we bow
(We
are posting
this
information
all through
Holy Week)
The
four gospels
cover the life
of Christ, a
period of
about 33
years. Most of
this material
deals with the
3˝ year period
of His
ministry.
However an
astounding 30
of the 89
accumulative
chapters in
the gospels
deal with the
period from
Christ's
triumphal
entry through
His
resurrection
and
post-resurrection
appearances.
Mathematically
this means
that
approximately
33% of the
written
material in
the gospels
deals with a
mere .05%
period of His
life! In the
providence of
God we have a
much greater
proportion of
material
dealing with
God's greatest
act of mercy
in providing
our
redemption.
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Jesus'
authority
challenged in
the temple:
Mt. 21:23-27;
Mk. 11:27-33;
Lk. 20:1-8
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn. 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt. 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk. 14:53-15:20; Lk. 22:54-23:25; Jn. 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt. 27:31-56; Mk. 15:20-41; Lk. 23:26-49; Jn. 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn. 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt. 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk. 14:53-15:20; Lk. 22:54-23:25; Jn. 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt. 27:31-56; Mk. 15:20-41; Lk. 23:26-49; Jn. 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18
Yesterday,
following an
early morning
chaplain
visit, we rode
the trails in
Swatara State
Park. It was a
beautiful day
with temps
reaching into
the seventies.
We'll share
some photos
today and
tomorrow.
The
trail crosses
Swatara Creek
on this park
bridge
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Along
the trail we
pass remnants
of the old
Union Canal
along Swatara
Creek built in
the early
1800's.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
At
the end of the
trail we pass
this once
proud house
that has been
in slow motion
ruin for many
years. There
must be a
story on why
it's not
demolished!
Click
on photo to
enlarge
This
mountain pond
is rather
serene.
Click
on photo to
enlarge
Wild
flowers
brighten the
trail, a
prelude to the
season of
spring and
summer
blossoms.
Click
on photo to
enlarge
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Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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