“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!” (Matt. 27:29).
How slippery is the nature of popular affection? The crowd now demanding that Jesus be crucified had just a few days earlier lined the dirt path through Jerusalem with their garments and choice olive branches for the donkey to walk on that carried the Lord. They had gone before and behind him in procession, crying “hosanna” and “blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!” But now those olive branches have been replaced with a platted crown of thorns that they beat down on his head, piercing into his temples. And their cries of blessing have been replaced with mocking rants of “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Such is the collective heart of the multitude. How foolish is the man that seeks to support himself on the pillars of this shifting sand, desiring to be identified with the crowd; for he soon finds his green olive branches turning into entangling snares of thorns. How much wiser to answer the personal call of God to follow Christ and receive the crown of life. This choice is not a collective community decision, but a very individual and intimate one.
The first chapter of the gospel of John shares how Andrew, the first disciple of Christ, came to follow him. Andrew heard John’s testimony of the Lord and the miraculous events that occurred when he baptized Christ. Andrew believed, even then. But the next day Jesus himself came to the place where John, Andrew, and another disciple of John stood. And when John saw Jesus coming toward them, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Andrew’s faith was evidenced outwardly at that moment, as he immediately turned and followed the Lord. And not only did he follow, but he hurried to find his own brother, Simon Peter, to tell him, “We have found the Messiah!”
The Messiah – this spotless lily among the cursed thorns of earth (Song 2:2, Gen 3:17) – endured the vicious crowd, the mocking robe, the thorny crown, and the scepter of reeds for a time in order that he might one day be enthroned on a white cloud wearing a golden crown and wielding a sharp sickle over his eternal kingdom (Rev. 14:14). For it was in the heart of God from the beginning of time that he would provide the heirs of his kingdom with the blessing of exchanging our cursed thorns for the crown of life that only he can give (Heb. 2:9, Rev. 2:10).
Contemplations:
- O my blessed God, my Lord and Savior and crown of triumph (Rev. 3:11), my garland of delight, teach me to willingly endure the trials and chastenings you ordain for me as you did the cross with its shame that was set before you. For if I will simply look to you, the Author and Finisher of my faith, I know that anything I suffer here will be duly rewarded with glory in the hereafter (Heb. 12:1-11).
- Lord, can I glory in anything but your cross by which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world? (Gal. 6:14). When you willingly chose to wear the cursed and thorny crown for me, how can I seek any more worthy crown than bearing your cross? (Matt. 16:24-26).
- Lord, I well deserve a life of thorns as a sinner, the thorns of shame and remorse for my sin. But I plead with you to remove from my heart the curse of these thorns that would choke the growth of your word (Luke 8:7) and soak my heart instead with the water of true repentance, so that I may bring forth fruit in due season (Ps. 1), and that I shall even of thorns gather grapes of joy and gladness.
Further References for Matthew 27:29:
John 19:3; Isa. 53:3; Matthew 20:19; Luke 23:36
