Crown of Thorns
June 2017
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Puzzling Questions
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was given a "crown of thorns" to wear?
Why thorns? Why not a crown made from some other material?
And why a crown?
Answers
1. Why thorns?
Thorns are a symbol of a curse. When Adam fell into disobedience by eating the fruit of the tree of Knowledge (of good and evil), God cursed the ground so that it will produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17-18). Before that, all plants were good (Genesis 1:11-12). Now we know who to blame for all the weeding we have to do! :)
Genesis 3: 17-18
17To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’. “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
Through Adam, we are all cursed, but through Jesus Christ we are redeemed, set free from such curses (Romans 5: 12-20).
When Jesus went to the Cross, He took the curse with Him (Galatians: 3:13). This is why His crown had to be made from thorns and not from another material. He was taking the curse for us.
2. Why a crown?
One might say that it was because Jesus was mocked as being "King of the Jews" that making a crown for Him was the appropriate thing to do (Matthew 27:29) -- after all, Kings wear crowns! Indeed, this is true. And the crown of thorns also symbolises Jesus being King over curses. He took the curses and rendered them useless (without power) for those who would believe in Him. Most Christians know of this point already, and of point 1 above also. However, there lies something deeper here, as God revealed to me. That is, Jesus had to wear the thorns as a crown because of Genesis 3, verse 19:
Genesis 3: 17-19
17To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’. “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Indeed, the thorns (i.e. the curse) caused Adam to have to toil painfully to the point that his brow would sweat (which was the result of the curse). So in order for Jesus to reverse the curse, He too had to wear the result of the curse on His brow -- and so to that end, it had to be a crown (around His head). And that crown had to carry the curse, hence a crown of thorns!
Furthermore, as Adam's brow dripped with his own sweat from the curse, so Jesus' brow dripped with His own precious blood to save us from the curse. Hallelujah!
Who would have thought that those six little words, "by the sweat of your brow" would have such a deep meaning? It is plain to see the power of God's Words; Words that have purpose and life in them. Words carefully written and inspired by God more than we could ever imagine; Words that would reveal the depth of His sacrifice, so we can better appreciate it.
Glory be to God for His revelations, and for His amazing sacrifice! He is one awesome God!
© Elma Larsen. All rights reserved.
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