Tuesday, March 28th

The Crown of Thorns

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe.

John 19:2

Read Matthew 27:26-30

The usual punishment for someone sentenced to crucifixion began with a severe scourging. A prisoner was stripped of his clothing, tied to a post with his hands above his head, and whipped repeatedly. The whip itself was made from leather strips with pieces of rock or bone tied to the ends. With each blow, the flesh of the prisoner was torn deeper and deeper until the skin was gone, leaving only a mass of bleeding tissue and muscle. Some men never survived the beating, but the Centurion in charge was to stop the process before death, so that the prisoner would be alive enough to still hang on a cross.

This was the treatment our Savior endured at the hands of the Roman soldiers. He had not slept nor refreshed Himself with water or food since the previous night. This misery was predicted by the prophet Isaiah, “And by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5c).

Jesus had already been mocked by Herod and his soldiers. A robe had been thrown on the Savior’s shoulders in a theatrical comic effort to play on the allegations against Him. Since He claimed to be King of the Jews, His executioners would caricature His title.

The soldiers fashioned a crown to match His robe. This one was out of local thorn bushes. Thrusting it down onto the Messiah’s scalp, his head wounds began to bleed, and the soldiers continued to laugh at the sight of this unlikely King.

Something to think about

1. How does Jesus’ suffering make you feel?

2. Why were the soldiers so cruel?

3. What is the meaning of Isaiah 53:4-5 for you?