He Wore My Crown

Matthew 27:26–31

• It was not an accident that Jesus was crowned with thorns. Though the crowning of thorns was a cruel mockery; a wicked act of hatred and rebellion on the part of man—yet Jesus being crowned with thorns was a vital part of God’s redemption plan.

I. The Curse of the Crown:

a. To the Roman soldier, it felt like a great way to humiliate the self-proclaimed king of a defeated nation. But in the heart and mind of God, it must come to pass. It symbolizes the curse that is upon humanity because of sin (Genesis 3:17-19). There’s a curse upon everything because of sin. Look at every hospital, every mental institution, every jailhouse, every meth-house, and say, “Sin did this.” And, the thorn is the symbol of that sin. When Jesus died on that cross, He was crowned with thorns because He bore the curse.

II. The Sorrow of the Crown:

a. That crown speaks of suffering and pain. That crown was pressed down into the temple, one of the most sensitive pressure points of the human body. And then, with a club they began to beat the head of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 52:14 says, “His visage”—that means, “His countenance”—“was so marred more than any man.” That is, He didn’t look like a man. He didn’t even seem human anymore. Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.”

III. The Shame of the Crown:

a. (Matthew 27:29) They were saying, “You’re not our King. You’re not a true King. We will not bow to you.” They were ridiculing His right to rule. They didn’t put a purple robe on Him (that’s the sign of royalty); they put a red robe on Him (that’s the symbol of sin). They did not put a scepter in His hand; they put a reed in His hand. They did not put a diadem on His brow; they put a crown of jagged thorns on His brow. He Alone suffered for us and men today, as then, refuse to bow the knee to Jesus Christ. And today, we will either bow the knee or crown Him with thorns one more time.

IV. The Teaching of the Crown:

a. God is teaching an object lesson; that He Who knew no sin—that’s Jesus—God had made Him to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) No sin is ever overlooked. Sin will be pardoned in Christ or punished in hell, but sin will never be overlooked. He took our sin. He was crowned with our sin. He carried it to the cross.

V. The Splendor of the Crown:

a. When Jesus wore this crown, He was the promised Messiah, not a helpless victim. What God ordained before the foundation of the world, would be accomplished. He was in perfect control. Crowns are symbols of authority. Jesus, in glory, wears “many crowns” of conquest. But that crown of thorns He wore for you and me. Our security, our salvation, our all and all is found in the name of the One Who wore my crown.