Crown of Thorns (7/16-17)

16-17 July 2015 - A Crown of Thorns – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 19:2 KJV: “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.” NKJV: “And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.”

The chorus, A Crown of Thorns came to me in the morning of July 8, 2015 on Wednesday. I remembered I sang this song in sign language at the Statewide Rally in the Northern part of California about 1966. It was a chorus I was surprised which I didn’t forget. For more verses, I found it from the old Melodies of Praise book of 1957.

Chorus: A Crown of Thorns

A rugged cross.., became His throne…

His kingdom was… in hearts alone…

He wrote His love… in crimson red..,

And wore the thorns… upon His head…

(Ira Stanphill, Melodies of Praise)

I became curious to study more about a crown of thorns. Matthew 27:29 “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” John 19:2 “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe …” John 19:5 “Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” 

Mark 15:17-20 “And they clothed Him with purple, and plaited a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, And began to salute Him, Hail, the King of Jews! And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him and bowing their knees worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put his own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him” (KJV).

Commentary: The crown of thorns was in mockery of a kingly crown. Placing a purple robe on Jesus made him a caricature of a royal conqueror. [Caricature means exaggeration of the actions, parts or features of someone or something usually for comic or something meant to make fun of and show the weaknesses of human nature or a particular person.]

The old English word, platted means braid, plait, pleat or twist. The Roman soldiers probably used three branches of thorns to weave and to braid them together into a crown. The thorns were an inch long. Just thinking of Jesus who took the thorns into His head was the most horrifying thought to mediate on … yet … Jesus told two men who were on the road to Emmaus, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26 KJV). [NCV: “They said that the Christ must suffer these things before He enters His glory.”] I am speechless!!! Here's amazing words from a song, A Crown of Thorns!

1. There was no crown for Him of silver or of gold.

There was no diadem (fancy crown) for Him to hold.

But blood adorned His brow and proud its stain He bore,

And sinners gave to Him the crown He wore. [Next chorus]

2. He did not reign upon a throne of ivory,

But died upon the cross of Calvary.

For sinners there He counted all He owned but loss,

And He surveyed His kingdom from a cross. [Next chorus]

3. No purple robe He wore His bleeding wounds to hide,

But stripes upon His back He wore with pride.

And from the wounds there flowed a crimson, cleansing stream,

That was a cover for the soul unclean. [Next chorus]

(Ira Stanphill, Melodies of Praise)