The Sixth Station: Jesus Is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

Luke 22:63-65 - Thy began to mock and beat Jesus; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”

John 19:2-3 - The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head ... They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

What cruel irony! Jesus finally received the words he deserved: "Hail, King of the Jews!" For once, he wore a crown upon his head. Yet it was not the golden crown of sovereignty or the olive crown of victory, but the thorny crown of suffering. Scholars have shown that the thorns from which Jesus' crown was composed were long and terribly sharp. No doubt they dug deeply into the head of the suffering king. We can't really imagine the physical pain, not to mention the emotional and spiritual anguish endured by the King of kings.

What incomprehensible irony! Jesus, the true king of Israel, endured the pain and mockery of the crown of thorns as part of his humiliation for us and our salvation. What was the result of his torture, beyond the transient agony? Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:5-11:

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Did you catch that? Because Jesus humbled himself, because he endured the humiliation of the cross, including the crown of thorns, therefore God exalted him to the highest place. For Jesus, the path to glory as King of kings included the path of disgrace. Because he wore the crown of thorns, Jesus would receive the crown of universal worship.

One of my favorite hymns is "Crown Him with Many Crowns." It is a celebration of the multifaceted sovereignty of Christ. Curiously, however, even in its full, original nine verses, this fine hymn doesn't mention Jesus' crown of thorns, though it does refer to his death in several different ways, mentioning specifically his "pierced feet" and his wounded "hands and side." I'd like to close today's reflection by printing the most popular four verses of "Crown Him with Many Crowns." I've added a new verse, which you'll find in italics:

Crown Him with Many Crowns
By: Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring

Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Thro’ all eternity.

Crown Him the promised One,
Messiah, Israel's king,
Who walked in servanthood along,
The path of suffering.
His honor struck in shame,
His sacrifice adorns,
His head bowed in humility,
Enhanced with twisted thorns.

Crown him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of peace,
Whose pow’r a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be pray’r and praise:
His reign shall know no end,
And round his pierced feet
Fair flow’rs of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of love;
Behold his hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me:
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Thro’out eternity.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How do you respond to the suffering of Jesus? What does it mean for you to honor Jesus in your life and work as your king?

PRAYER: Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard it is to read of the abuse you suffered even prior to your crucifixion. I can't even begin to imagine what you felt, not only physically, but especially in your soul. What can I say in response but "Thank you" for walking the path of suffering and shame for my sake? You took the abuse that I deserved and gave me your glory in return.

Help me, dear Lord, to honor you as my King in all that I do. May my words and deeds reflect your sovereignty and celebrate your glory. Amen.