Daily Devotional for Tuesday, November 14

A Crown of Thorns

“And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!” Mark 15:17, 18.

This scene makes me picture a school yard full of children who have banded together to taunt and ridicule another unfortunate child who has done nothing wrong except to look or act different, someone who is not popular. Unfortunately, adults act this way also. Down through the centuries, grown men have banded together to mock and scorn another. This kind of treatment is common from groups who like to take their hatred out on certain individuals.

In these verses, they truly did mock the rightful King of the Jews. The soldiers led him to a hall called Praetorium. This was the governor’s court room or judgment hall. Here they called the whole band of soldiers together. This was about six hundred men. They clothed Jesus in purple, which is the color of royalty, and they placed a crown on His head, but this crown was woven together with strips of twine that had thorns. Then they hit Him on the head with a reed, pounding the thorns further into His head. The reed or stick they used signified a king’s scepter, denoting authority.

A king wore a crown as a symbol of authority, and it made him easily recognizable in battles or huge crowds. Only rulers could afford purple for the dye was rare and very expensive. All the things the soldiers used depicted royalty. They used these things to mock Jesus, to make fun of Him because they did not believe He was the King of the Jews.

The pain He endured before the Crucifixion was excruciating. Isaiah 53 foretold the physical and mental abuse He underwent. I encourage you to read this chapter. It will give you a detailed description of what Jesus endured.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (Isaiah 53:10). Yes, Jesus went through a lot for you. Remember the things He did and be thankful.

Karry Irizarry