#143 THE CROWN HE WORE 9-16-26

Jesus wearing the kind of crown that He wore while He was on earth is a difficult thought. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16), the One through whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16), yet His crown was woven from thorns. The soldiers pressed it upon His head, mocked Him, and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29). The One who deserved every crown wore the crown that belonged to a cursed world.

A CROWN OF THORNS

The thorns were more than an instrument of pain. They take us back to Eden, where sin entered the world and the ground brought forth “thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:17-18). At Calvary, Jesus bore upon His brow a visible reminder of the curse. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). He stepped into our fallen world and carried its burden upon Himself (Isaiah 53:4-6).

A CROWN OF SHAME

Jesus was not only wounded; He was humiliated. He was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3). They struck Him, spit upon Him, mocked Him, and clothed Him in mock royalty (Matthew 27:27-31). Yet Hebrews tells us that He “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). He accepted the shame because He loved us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

A CROWN OF GLORY

But the crown of thorns was not His final crown. “We see Jesus…crowned with glory and honor” (Hebrews 2:9). The One who humbled Himself became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross; therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:8–11).

He wore thorns so we could receive glory. He endured shame so we could be accepted. He suffered as a King so that sinners could become children of God. One day, by His grace, we will cast our crowns before Him and worship the One who is worthy (Revelation 4:10-11).

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Lord Jesus, help us never forget the crown You wore for us. Amen.

BDD