TGIF

Today’s message, and my remaining Lent messages for
this year, will come from the Max Lucado book titled On Calvary’s Hill.  Today’s message is titled The Crown of
Thorns.  As always, Max begins
with relevant scripture:

Matthew 27:28-29
– They took off His clothes and put a red robe on Him.  Using thorny branches, they made a crown, put
it on His head, and put a stick in His right hand.

Max then writes An unnamed soldier took branches
– mature enough to bear thorns, nimble enough to bend – and wove them into a
crown of mockery, a crown of thorns.
Throughout the Scripture thorns symbolize not sin but the consequence of
sin.  Remember Eden?  After Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed the
land: “So I will put a curse on the ground….
The ground will produce thorns and weeds for you, and you will eat the
plants of the field” (Genesis 3:17-18 NCV).
Brambles on the earth are the product of sin in the heart.  The fruit of sin is thorns – spiny, prickly,
cutting thorns. 

I emphasize the “point” of the thorns to
suggest a point you may have never considered: If the fruit of sin is thorns,
isn’t the thorny crown on Christ’s brow a picture of the fruit of our sin that
pierced His heart? 

What is the fruit of sin?  Step into the briar patch of humanity and
feel a few thistles.  Shame.  Fear.
Disgrace.  Discouragement.  Anxiety.
Haven’t our hearts been caught in these brambles? 

The heart of Jesus, however, had not.  He had never been cut by the thorns of
sin.  What you and I face daily, He never
knew.  Anxiety?  He never worried!  Guilt?
He was never guilty!  Fear?  He never left the presence of God!  Jesus never knew the fruits of sin… until He
became sin for us.

He did it for you.  Just for you.

Max then closes in prayer – O Lord, I am well
aware of the thorns of sin that pierced You to the heart.   Free me from the briars and brambles that
keep me locked away from the joy of your presence.  In Jesus’ name, amen!

There is nothing more I can add to this message, so I
will stop and let all this soak into your being.  May we all recognize the ultimate gift that
Jesus gave to each one of us by going to the cross on our behalf.