The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face. John 19:2-3 (NIV)
They have Him, the Lamb of God. They take our Redeemer, and they fashion a crude crown. They place it on His head. They dress Him up as if they were celebrating His royalty. They give our Lord their verbal flattery, but it is just a game. They have no intentions of bowing their hearts before Him. They are getting their kicks out of a false show of respect. It entertains them to put Jesus up as a King. But all their singing “Hail to the King” is just a joke. They hurt our Friend. They hit Him with their cold-hearted game. They do not adore Him. What they do is something quite the contrary. The crown they place upon Jesus is not the one He should wear. It is a painful one of misrepresented praise. What horrible treatment! What a twisted game. What an insulting crown thorns! Who could be so cruel? What kind of monsters are these soldiers? How could they do this to our Lord? Or wait!…… Could they still be doing it today? Could we?
What exactly are the crimes the soldiers commit against our Saviour? Are they only the physical gestures? Or is there much more darkness behind each brutal strike? Is their failure to recognize the Son of God, what allows them to act this way? If they could only see that this Man they are toying with is their only chance to come to know God, would they still be able to play out their ritual game? If they could see that they are really hurting their own chances of experiencing the thrill of being in the Presence of Creator, would they continue with their terrible charade? If they could see what their feinted praise was winning them in Heaven, would they still call Him the King in the same fashion? If they could see what kind of crown Jesus truly does wear, would they still put this twisted one upon Him? Yes, the false praise is bad and the low treatment hurts our Lord. But could the saddest part be just how far their hearts have strayed from God and are hurting their chance for Salvation?
As Christians living today, should we come to examine more urgently than ever how we treat the Son of God? In our gatherings and as individuals, should we search our hearts to see if we are committing the same crimes to our own undoing? Where are our hearts when we sing “Hail to the King?” Is He really our King? Or is our praise somehow feinted? What kind of worship do we display when we gather around Him? Is it genuine? What kind of crown are we placing upon our Saviour? Is it a makeshift one? Is it something worth the Conquering King? Is it one that is worthy of the Son of God to wear? Or does it pain our Lord to feel the cheap, painfully construed crown which we fashion because we cannot imagine the one He should be wearing? Are we really coming to and bowing in the Presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lord? Are we truly gazing on the glimmering brilliance of His crown with all the glory of Heaven? Or are we still placing on Jesus a twisted crown of thorns?
Dear Jesus,
It makes us want to cry when we consider how bad some have treated You. But until we are safely Home with You, we cannot relax. Too many have fallen short of Your wishes for us! Please come to us today! Open our hearts and examine with us what You find there. Are we failing to honor You with our praise or our worship in any way? How much darkness or distance still separates us from lifting You up as You deserve? Tell us. Teach us! Help us never to lower You with a twisted crown we pray!
Amen
Searching For Christ 