The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 27 Part 4 There Is Glory In The Cross Of Christ.

Matthew 27:27-31  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 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! 30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

Jewish historian Josephus stated that there were about 500 Roman soldiers in the hall of judgment when Jesus was led away for execution.

Forcefully putting a crown of thorns upon Jesus' head was designed to mock Him as a king as well as to inflict pain.

Jesus being spat upon was the ultimate sign of disrespect and shame and this fulfilled Messianic prophecies found in Psalm 69:7 and Isaiah 50:6.

Psalm 35:15-16  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16  With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 

The Psalmist also spoke of Messiah's sufferings in this text.

This seems to indicate the thoughts of Christ as He was physically and verbally abused by wicked men and cruel soldiers.

The crown of thorns symbolized Christ bearing the curse and wages of sin for us.

2 Samuel 23:6  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:27  But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.  

This text is taken from the last words spoken by King David.

He spoke of the sons of Belial who were wicked men who rejected Jehovah and violated His commandments, doing harm to themselves and others, just as thorns prick our bodies and cause pain.

Judges 9:14-15  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 

Times were dark during the period of the judges when every man did what was right in their own sight, meaning that much sin and wickedness spread throughout the land.

There was plotting and murderous scheming going on until such time as the people cried out to God for help, and He raised up a judge to deliver them.

This exchange between Jotham and Abimelech. Abimelech killed all of his brothers in order to rule like a king over Israel.

His youngest brother Jotham hid himself and then called to the Hebrews who had made his wicked brother their king.

He compared the reign of Abimelech to being torn by thorns that pierce the flesh of men and cause pain, and choke out good plants and crops.

Genesis 3:17-19  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

In pronouncing His judgment for the sin of Adam and Eve, God put a curse on the ground.

Instead of being easy to till and easily producing food for man, it would always be infested with thorns and weeds, and hard work needed to produce crops, until God creates a new heaven and a new earth.

Thorns and thistles are very much part of this curse.

This helps us understand why a crown of thorns was placed on Jesus' head.

It is a symbol of the curse of God upon the earth. It is due to Adam's sin.

It is a symbol of the fallen nature of all humanity, and the truth that all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This connects with Jesus bearing our sins, our transgressions, and being made a curse for us, so that the curse of sin and death can be defeated and removed by the power of His resurrection.

All who break God's law are under the curse of sin, subject to the wrath of God and the wages of sin, which is death.

Deuteronomy 21:22-23  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 

Christ carried all of our transgressions of God's law upon Himself as He hung on the cross.

Those who committed a sin requiring capital punishment according to God's law, were to be hung on a tree, which is a precursor of Christ on the cross.

Jesus was innocent and never sinned. Instead, He bore our sins and was hung on a cross (often called a tree) in our place, to suffer and die for us.

Galatians 3:13-14  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

From a New Testament view, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, bearing our sins and being made a curse for us, taking our place on that tree.

This was done so that the blessing of the covenant God made with Abraham might come to all who repent of sin and trust Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

Here is the crux of the gospel's good news. God has reconciled all those who have repentance and faith in Christ, to Himself by Jesus' work in the cross.

How could Jesus do such a mighty work of making one, eternal sacrifice for the sins of all humanity for all time?

Because God was in Christ, or as Paul says elsewhere, God was manifest in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

Because it is true that God was manifest in the flesh, we are to be Christ's ambassadors, who preach, teach and share the gospel with people who do not know Christ as Savior.

Jesus was made sin for us, by being God's perfect, spotless, innocent Lamb who died in our place, bearing our sins.

1 Peter 2:21-25  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

Again, because these things are true about Jesus Christ, each Christian has a duty, a spiritual responsibility, to live for the glory of God.

We may be called to suffer and this is right, because Jesus suffered for us.

When he was falsely accused, He answered truthfully.

When His detractors scorned and ridiculed Him, He did not respond in kind.

Jesus Christ Himself, bore or carried our sins in His body as He hung on the cross, here called a tree.

He did this to bring each one who repents and trusts Him, eternal life, and to teach us how to live a godly life in an ungodly world.

Although the magnitude of Christ's sufferings are so vast we cannot even begin to imagine it, He did this for us, to save us from sin, death, Hell and Satan's power.

I urge each one of us to reflect upon the historical and spiritual realities of Christ's incarnation, perfect life, beautiful teachings, mighty miracles, and His sufferings, death, burial and resurrection.

Do I give God my best in terms of how I use my talents, time and resources?

Do I seek to live for the glory of God, whether I am working, studying, doing chores and relaxing?

Am I seeking first the kingdom of God and Christ told us to?

The answers to these questions will show us where we may be encouraged, or show us where we need to confess that self is on the throne of our heart, and ask our Father for a fresh start.

Bob