A Crown of Thorns

We’ve had a few warm spring days this past week. Anyone who has any kind of patch of ground, and is able on a warm spring day in the Pacific NW, will feel compelled to go outside and clean up the debris from the winter season.

On Wednesday, I was began the task of pruning the rose bushes. While pushing down on a woody dead branch on a rose bush, it gave way and boom! I fell into the neighboring thorny rose bush and scraped my lower arm before I hit the ground. I glanced down and saw my arm all scraped with numerous wounds from those thorns. I threw my garden gloves down and stomped into the house to care for my wounded arm. My kind husband was there and he carefully wrapped my arm with gauze and soothing salve. It felt better and I went back outside to finish the job.

When I marched outside I quipped, “If Jesus had a crown of thorns on his head, I guess I can stand a little scrape on my arm!” And then I realized what an irreligious statement to make. I looked into what the crown of thorns really meant and it wasn’t an accident that low level Roman soldiers formed a crown and placed it on Jesus’ head. (John 19:2).

The crown of thorns is a symbol Christians view that Jesus was a king and one day, will be King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16).

Thorns are prophetically mentioned throughout the Bible. In Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve were discharged from the Garden, they were told All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.It will grow thorns and thistles for you (Genesis 3). Little did the soldiers know they were fulfilling prophecy by doing this cruel thing. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; (Isaiah 53: 5).

After the soldiers shoved the crown on his head and wrapped him in a purple robe, they hung him on a cross. They believed they were doing away with an insurgent. Yet, he was the Son of God.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13).

The soldiers who a mocked Jesus by placing that crown on his head didn’t realize the significance of their act. Our Savior, Jesus, delivered us from the curse of sin by taking it on himself, the Perfect One.

So what does that have to do with my crash into a thorny bush? For me, a reminder of a teensy taste of what Jesus did for us. He didn’t have to, but he loved us so much he allowed it to happen.

I’ve asked for forgiveness for that glib statement about thorns, and now look on the significance of that crown. I’ll glance at the bandage on my arm, and remember a portion of what he did so many years ago.

The song below, written by Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153). As you listen–and I hope you take the time to do so–contemplate what Jesus Christ did that day two thousand years ago. I’ve included one rendition. You can explore yourself the different versions. A pipe organ. A choir. Mostly, remember.

I was reminded once again of the tremendous sacrifice he made for us.