“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head,
and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him,
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”
(Matthew 27:29)
One of the most amazing and comforting truths surrounding the passion of Christ is that everything that occurred between His arrest in the Garden and His death on the cross at Calvary was foreordained to the letter by God the Father. So when Christ’s enemies yell out “Hail, King of the Jews!” what they do not know is that even in their mockery they are declaring the truth of God and His gospel. For not only is Christ King of the Jews, He is Lord of all (Philippians 2:10). Further, though the scepter they placed in His hand at His trial was only a withering reed, He still used it to deal a death blow to the head of that serpent the devil as prophesied in Genesis 3:15.
Not only was Christ’s passion and death foreordained by God in eternity past, His victory over death and hell and the devil was predetermined in the mind and will of God as well. So, even as these hypocritical religious leaders and pompous government officials ridiculed and buffeted the Lord whom they prided themselves in arresting and sentencing to death, they were playing out perfectly the role God had foreordained for them to carry out in His grand plan of redemption.
Christ was falsely accused, but He did not open His mouth to defend Himself against His accusers because He chose to willingly bear the guilt and shame of the sins of all those who would follow Him by faith. He withstood the beatings and accepted the accusations so that going forward no one in heaven or earth could ever rightfully accuse His own before God (Romans 8:33).
So when Satan attempts to testify against us in the court of heaven, Christ steps up to the Judge’s bench and holds out His scarred hands. Nothing that Satan can throw at us has any power or merit, because Christ took the punishment for us. Neither can the law bring any charge against us because Christ also fulfilled the law.
Though He was completely innocent, sinless, and guiltless, He bore all the travesties and beatings and ridicules of His accusers willingly so that He could become sin for us (a sin offering), that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. And in doing so, He conquered sin and death and Satan once for all, fully accomplishing what God sent him to do to the letter.
And when the time of His kingdom is at hand and He returns to set up His throne in Jerusalem, every one of His children will reign with Him because we are more than conquerors through Him (Romans 8:37). “Where the Gospel is preached, [this] is the scepter of Christ’s Kingdom, within You, in the hearts of the faithful. There Christ sets up his scepter, ruling and governing by his Word and Spirit.”[1]
Indeed, His scepter then will not be a hollow reed but a mighty staff that, when wielded by the King of kings, will subdue every aspect of nature as well as every creature under His command, for this scepter is an everlasting scepter (Hebrews 1:8), and of this Kingdom there shall be no end (Isaiah 9:7).
Contemplations
- Reverence for Your scepter. I confess often ignoring the power of Your kingdom, Lord. Help my obedience that I may show humble awe at its everlasting scepter. And let me not allow the trembling of devils outdo that of my own (James 2:19) but rather stir faith in me to greater honor its majesty and terror.
- Armed with Your Word. Your scepter governs Your kingdom of grace through righteousness and truth. I confess my own weakness against temptations and ask You to equip my mouth and heart with Your word, that I may wield the weapon of Your Word effectively against every attack of Satan.
- Silence amid accusation. Though falsely accused, You did not seek to defend Yourself, bearing sins willingly (Romans 8:33). Forgetting Your example, I fall into the trap of attempting to defend myself rather than depending on Your scarred hands to silence Satan’s accusations and make me righteous in You (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Conquerors through You. We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) because Your reed dealt Satan’s blow (Genesis 3:15). And yet I find myself doubting final victory and yielding to sin. Help me remember that a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom, and that kingdom is without end (Isaiah 9:7; Hebrews 1:8).
Prayer (adoration)
O sovereign God, You are the eternal King whose decrees span from before creation to endless ages. I exalt You for foreordaining Christ’s passion and fulfilling Your redemptive plan in every detail. Matthew 27:29 tells us of the mockers who crowned Him with thorns, gave Him a reed scepter, and hailed Him as “King of the Jews.” Even in their derision, they proclaimed Your truth. You are worthy of all praise for You even turn enmity to Your glory.
I adore You for Christ’s kingship: not only of the Jews, but He is Lord of all (Philippians 2:10). Even the reed became an instrument that crushed the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). Your wisdom confounds the wise and exalts the humble. I marvel at Your predestined victory: passion, death, triumph over hell, all predetermined in Your mind even before You created the world.
You are glorious, using hypocrites and officials to execute redemption. They ridiculed and buffeted while You orchestrated salvation. And Christ stood in silence, bearing our guilt (Romans 8:33), so that none have cause to accuse Your elect. I praise Your justice, how that innocent became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we might be made righteous in Him.
I worship You for conquering sin, death, and Satan through Your cross. Resurrection disarmed the powers of Satan (Colossians 2:15), fulfilling Your mission perfectly. Your faithfulness abounds, Your justice remains, and Your law is satisfied.
When the time of Your kingdom is at hand, You will reign from Your throne in Jerusalem (Romans 8:37). At that time, Your scepter will not be that of a reed but a mighty staff subduing all (Hebrews 1:8). Your kingdom will be without end, as You are King forever (Isaiah 9:7). I bow before Your majesty and Your eternal rule.
You have told us that our weapons are not carnal but are mighty and capable to pull down the strongholds that attempt to bind us (2 Corinthians 10:4). By Your indwelling Spirit, in concert with Your Word, we are able to conquer through You. Thank You that our victory is assured and Your glorious reign is eternal.
From the moment of Your arrest to Your last breath at Calvary, every step was divinely orchestrated. I praise Your love, Father, for sending Your Son to bear my shame. For this reason I will share in Your eternal glory (Romans 8:18), as Your adopted heir and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
I stand in awe of all these truths, worshiping the King eternal.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture references for Matthew 27:29
John 19:3, Isa. 53:3, Matthew 20:19, Luke 23:36.
[1] John Brinsley, Prayer and Praise, (London: Printed for John Tuthill, book-seller in Yarmouth, 1661), 26.
