The Crown of Thorns

Hello Friends,

Well, it’s the last Sunday of winter and it sounds like it is going to be a day of more bad weather. Praying that you all stay safe. However, noting that today is the last Sunday of winter, that means that spring is just around the corner. In just a few days, on March 20th at 9:46am, spring will officially arrive: flowers will begin to bloom, trees will bud, the grass will start to turn to lush green color, bird feeders will go empty rather quickly, and more and more people will be outside. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring, except for the bad weather. Are you ready for spring? What are you looking forward to do this spring?

Today, I want us to think about an item that is seen hanging on the cross: the crown of thorns. I want to begin by sharing a little story about me, the meaning of the crown of thorns, and a short parable of a little prince. Let’s begin…

Growing up, I remember taking trips to Burger King with my family. It was a special treat for all of us to go out to eat. My dad and mom would order the Jr. Whopper, my eldest brother would get a double whopper, my other brother would get the crispy chicken sandwich, and occasionally my sister would get a premade salad. And I would get something from the kids menu so that I could get one of Burger Kings iconic cardboard crowns, which are still available today.

Let me tell you, wearing that crown, I felt as if I was ruling the world—until I got home! That crown was something special, something unique, and something that opened my eyes to a whole new world. I felt like a king! When we think of Jesus wearing a crown, we think of a crown similar to that of the Burger King crown: bronze or gold in color, reaching into the heavens with its pillars, decorated with precious jewels, and symbolic object of royalty. But that’s not what Jesus receives while on this earth, just hours away from his death.

The crown of thorns is a symbol of misery, pain, sin, and death. The crown of thorns is a symbol of mockery and kingship. The soldiers placed the crown on Jesus to mock his title as “King of the Jews,” turning a symbol of royalty into one of shame, humiliation, and injustice. Additionally, the crown of thorns was a sign of pride, dishonor, and self-degradation, the opposite of what Jesus preached. The crown of thorns was a sign of evil, wickedness, and death and Jesus wore this. Jesus wore our sin upon his head. As a matter of fact, our sin was pressed into him as the thorns pierced him.

The soldiers wanted to ridicule and embarrass Jesus because he spoke openly to Pilate that he was a king, but his kingdom was not of this world. What is astonishing is that Jesus didn’t try to remove it: he wore it. He wore it to remove humanity’s pain, to remove humanity’s sin, and to remove humanity’s suffering. Jesus wore the crown of thorns for you so that you may be forgiven of all the bad stuff you have done. Jesus needed to wear the crown of thorns so that we could wear the “Burger King” crown today!

Now, let’s hear about a young prince.

Once upon a time there was a kingdom where a young prince lived. He was known for his wisdom and generosity, but he also carried a crown of thorns. This crown, although invisible to the eyes of others, represented the pains and challenges he faced in his life.

One day, the prince decided to travel around the kingdom and get to know its people better. During his journey, he encountered a peasant who was experiencing difficulties. The peasant had a family to support, but the harvest had been poor and he did not have enough to feed everyone. The prince, with compassion in his heart, decided to help the peasant. He took the crown of thorns from his own head and handed it to the peasant, saying, “This crown represents the pains and challenges we all face in our lives. Take it with you and let it be a reminder that you are not alone in your difficulties.”

The peasant, moved by the prince’s gesture, accepted the crown of thorns and placed it on his own head. Although the thorns hurt, he felt a renewed sense of strength and hope. The crown of thorns has become a symbol of perseverance and overcoming.

As the peasant continued his journey, he encountered others who were also struggling in their lives. He shared the story of the crown of thorns and how it had inspired him to face his own challenges. The crown has become a symbol of empathy and solidarity, uniting people in their suffering and encouraging them to move forward.

This parable reminds us that we all face difficulties in our lives–we have thorns–represented by the crown of thorns. However, we can also find strength and hope in the midst of these challenges. Just as the prince shared his crown with the peasant, we can share our experiences and support each other on our journeys.

The crown of thorns also reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He wore a crown of thorns during His crucifixion, enduring pain and suffering in our place. His crown of thorns became a symbol of love and redemption, reminding us of the immense sacrifice he made for us. Therefore, the crown of thorns that Jesus wore is a reminder to all of us that we make mistakes but that Jesus is willing to “wear” those mistakes so that we can be forgiven today and every day.

I’m so thankful for Jesus wearing the crown of thorns! Now, if I could only find my Burger King crown…

Let us Pray: Dear Jesus, may we find strength and hope amid our own crowns of thorns. May we share our experiences and support each other in our difficulties. And may we never forget the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, represented by the crown of thorns, which offers us the hope of a full and eternal life. Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!