Why did Jesus wear a crown of thorns? Brad Hewey looks at creation and scripture, and shares his thoughts on the significance of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head.
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The Beauty Of Creation
Driving through the Annapolis Valley each spring, is a real feast for the eyes. The leaves are popping in brilliant colors, fresh spring shades of fluorescent greens, yellows, hints of red; these bring a brightness that is so refreshing after a long winter. To that back drop of color is added a sparkling of bright white and pink blossoms from cherry and apple trees.
Everything is so full of life, and it always sets my mind about the wonder of creation and the new life that springs forth each year; witnessing to us from the very ground we walk on, or drive on. The Bible calls these things a witness to the power of God himself, “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead”, so that they are without excuse. The beauty and testimony that is borne out in the creative act, should draw the wayward soul to consider; beauty and order such as this, can only be at the hand of a divine creator.
Thorn Bushes
But let’s consider for a moment, that all things created are not robed in beauty. If we look closer and deeper into the tree line we see the less desirables…dandelions, weeds, burdocks, you see scrub brush, alder bushes, briars, and what are those hideous things reaching out as if to grab hold of us? The dreaded thorn bushes. Never to be daunted by the harshness of winter, there sharp barbs endure through every season, ready to inflict serious pain and injury when you come into contact with them. But when we take a moment to reflect on their purpose, are they not a reminder for Christians, of the thorns that crowned the brow of our savior? Are they not also a reminder of the curse of sin; the curse that was mentioned in the garden in Genesis 3? “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee”.
A Crown Of Thorns
Thorns don’t grow naturally into the shape of a crown. They grow in a misconfigured, haphazard, dangerous configuration. If we look back to Calvary, and the crown of thorns that was placed upon Jesus head, we realize it would have had to have been so carefully and methodically constructed.
A crown of mockery. They were so desiring to punish him, to scoff at him, for his claims of being a King, of being the LORD of all, of being the Son of God.They spared no insult at his expense. So with a crown of mockery fashioned and set upon his brow, the purple robe was brought forth and placed, purple…the color to signify royalty. How desirous they were to create a scene of utter disdain. How wonderful, that Jesus blood has covered those dreadful sins…and all sin.
History does not say, but most probable is the thought; that this would have been the first time, possibly the only time, that a crown of thorns was placed upon the one being crucified.
Giving Himself Unto Death
The Bible records that the robe was removed. “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments…that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.”
So as prophesied, the robe was removed. But the crown remained. He hung as a spectacle there; those sharp barbs drawing a steady flow of blood from his precious brow. It was a scene of explicit horror that continued to unfold, that all present would bear witness to the fact that he’d been accused, convicted and ultimately defeated, being put to his rightful death.
To the Roman soldiers and to the Jewish authority it appeared he was now succumbing to that death. Where was that great demonstration of power and deliverance he so boldly proclaimed?
Oh, but we know, it was not him succumbing to death, it was him “giving himself unto death”. It was giving himself unto death, that he might give eternal life to all.
And hanging there; unbeknown to those who had crowned his brow, it was a visible sign that he was crowned with the curse of sin, as set out in the garden; from Adam to you and I. That sin curse had been upon the ground, and all the weight of its full intention was placed upon his head.
So, he bore the curse, and delivered it up and the testimony to it speaks to us. The world missed that, but we see it.
It Is Finished
I believe the crown remained upon his head, until Joseph of Arimathea begged the body of Jesus, that he might bring him down from the cross for a fitting burial. It would have been then that the crown was removed. How symbolic is that act. The crown was not removed from his head while he was yet alive on the cross. The crown was not left upon his head and placed with him into the tomb. But the crown was removed from his head, after he said “it is finished”. He truly put the curse of sin to death, when he gave himself over to death.
We don’t know what happened to that crown of thorns. But we know what happened to the curse that it represented. Jesus bore it himself, delivered up sin and death and hell, and the curse of it all… in bowing his head for sinners. The world doesn’t see this beauty. How blessed we are that all things can point us to Christ. Our eyes should always be looking for him, and to him.
So, as we stroll through a park, through the woods, through our own backyard, or as we drive down the highway to work, let’s be aware that the beauty unfolding is a beautiful witness to our Gods creative power, displayed in new life abounding. And as we peer deeper into the forest, deeper into the thicket, yes we do see the old gnarly thorns that are still drawing life from the soil. But the power represented in the curse has been removed, once and for all. So, let’s praise him for this deliverance that springs forth as a reminder to us in this new spring season.
“Lest I forget thy thorn crowned brow, lead me to Calvary”
Brad Hewey
Brad offers up practical, scriptural advice from a perspective borne out of everyday life encounters. As we live and move and have our being…it’s the individual life lessons that most often present the greatest challenges, but can yield the richest blessings. We’ve all, as Christians had those faith affirming moments, where we’ve had an overwhelming sense of God’s spirit, or his very presence “at a particular but, maybe random time”.
Brad was born and still resides in a small community in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, where he and his wife Karen raised their 3 children. Brad & Karen fellowship at the Greenland Bible Chapel, where Brad serves as an elder.
Brad loves meeting and engaging with people. His background in sales has provided opportunities to travel throughout the US and Canada, networking with people from all walks of life. Brad is a singer/songwriter, and has recorded 3 Christian albums. Songs from his “Brighter Day” release, have aired on Christian Radio stations across Canada and two of Brad’s albums are on HopeStreamRadio’s playlist.
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