Victory Through The Cross of Christ Part 2
In this story from John 19, we see God the Father attain victory for us through the cross of Christ. Shane Johnson describes the sufferings of Christ on our behalf . To read part 1 of the story, click here.
Scourging and Mockery
Scourging was only the beginning. Next came the mockery. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and pushed it into His head, tearing the skin and ripping through the flesh. Then they clothed Him with a purple robe, further offending His majesty. With mockery, laughter and abusive speech, they hailed with insulting praise and railed upon Him with jesting, saying “Hail, King of the Jews!”
In Ezekiel we read that in love and grace God placed “a beautiful crown upon the head” of Israel. In return for all God had given them, they gave Him over to be coronated with a crown of thorns. How gracious of the Lord to bow His great head to don such a ridiculous crown. C.S. Lewis in the “Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” depicts this shameful scene through the shaving of Aslan’s mane, a cruel gesture of humiliation that brought Him into deeper grief.
Crown Of Cursing – Crown Of Blessing
They meant it as a crown of cursing but God turned it into a crown of blessing. Thorns are an apt symbol of the curse of the ground, which Adam received after having broken the only command given to his charge. This curse was given to Jesus, the Last Adam, at the cross and the penalty of our sin was passed onto Him – on His head.
In the Old Testament, before a lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people, the one who sacrificed placed his hands upon the head of the animal and confessed all their sins, symbolically transferring the guilt of the one onto the innocence of the other. Praise God Christ was willing to take the sins of mankind upon His own head. God who knew them, laid them on Him, and believing we are free. The curse became a blessing because of Christ’s willingness to stand in our place.
As if in compensation for the humiliation of the crown He wore we read in Revelation 19:12 that “…on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” That head once crowned with bruises, cuts and blood will one day be crowned with many crowns. That head that received the curse will receive power and glory and honour and blessing because He chose to wear that crown for us.
The Saviour Deserves Our Worship
God who struck Nabab and Abihu dead for offering strange fire on His altar in Leviticus chapter 10, certainly could have struck down dead the men who dared place a crown of thorns upon His head, but He for the sake of our redemption let them treat Him as an blasphemer, imposter, and criminal. Yet it is we who are the blasphemers, the imposters, the criminals; it is we who deserved the suffering and shame. But He, our glorious Lord, assumed the penalty of our sin upon Himself in order that we might go free. Truly such a Saviour deserves all our worship, all our service and all our hearts. Let us live our lives as a monument to His glory.
Are you saved? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Read Part 1 here.
Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson has been commended from Bethel-Park Bible Chapel since 1999. He resides in Brantford, Ontario with his wife Shelly and his five children.
He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. His passions are teaching children, inspiring young people, writing, music and playing soccer.
Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his programs entitled “Christ Up Close,” “Raising Fathers,” and “Proverbs – Wisdom For Fools.“
More Podcasts Below:
More Blogs
Creativity and Inspirational Messages
God Loves Us and We Should Love Others
Images courtesy of:
Christ Before Pilate: Antonio Ciseri
Crown of Thorns: Simon Speed
Leave a Reply