THE HEAD THAT ONCE WAS CROWNED WITH THORNS

 

There’s an old hymn that says:

The head that once was crowned with thorns

Is crowned with glory now

A royal diadem adorns the mighty Victor’s brow

 

How we should treasure old and ancient hymns! 

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Then there’s a modern song that says:

Thank You for the cross, Lord
Thank You for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

 

The words are theologically correct, but “thank you” in relation to the cross is such an inadequate phrase.  We say “thank you” if someone gives us a cup of coffee or a birthday present but it’s so incongruous in the context of the hellish agony and horror of the cross.

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Since this last Easter, I have started instead to say “SORRY” for the cross. 

I’m sorry that it was my sin that took Jesus to the cross. I’m sorry that He chose to go through all that agony to save me/us from death and hell.

“I’m sorry for the cross Lord.

I’m sorry You went through all of that to save me from my sins.”

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I would not have gone through that agony even to save MYSELF from hell - and certainly not for anyone else, but HE DID.

“I’m sorry Lord and I’m amazed all over again at Your love Lord. 

We really did not, and still do not, deserve what you went through for us.”

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When I was in Israel for the first time we went to a park where they had reconstructions of equipment and artifacts from Bible times such as a village well, wine and olive presses, a carpenter’s shop and so on. They also had several crosses, and I was shocked. 

 

In all the Hollywood films the cross of Jesus is up on a hill and the cross itself is very tall and high up so it seems remote and distant, but in reality it was not like that at all. A cross was not much taller than a DOOR so people could literally stand there and look into the eyes of someone dying in terrifying agony (which took hours).

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That made it even more awful and horrific.  No wonder His mother Mary and others “stood afar off.”  Then at midday there was utter darkness for three hours and maybe it was during that time that John and Mary came closer, and Jesus was able to speak with them, but they could not see Him which would have made it slightly easier for them to cope with the horror of it all.

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Let us not forget that as well as the incomprehensible agony of having the nails in his hands and feet, his back was ripped to shreds by the flogging and a crown of thorns was pressed down into his head.

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Lord I’m SO SORRY for the cross

So, so, sorry

 

But we are so GLAD that -

 

The Head that once was crowned with thorns

is crowned with GLORY now.

A royal diadem adorns the

MIGHTY VICTOR'S brow

 

Lord, YOU and You ALONE, deserve ALL the glory

Forever and ever and ever and evermore.

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