“And they clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him. And they began to salute Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (Mark 15:17-18)
In the Old Testament, we read a lot about David. He was a famous king. God promised that his descendants would also rule over Israel. It became increasingly clear that a very special “Son of David” would bring peace and justice. In Psalm 132:18 (ESV), God says about him, “His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” What a wonderful prospect!
In the New Testament, we read that Jesus is the promised “Son of David.” He is the King of the Jews—and of all nations. But the Jewish leaders refuse to acknowledge Him as such. On the contrary, they want to get rid of Him! Using false witness statements and political pressure, they have Him condemned to death.
Once the verdict is pronounced, the Roman soldiers play their cruel game with Jesus. They dress Him as a king, but instead of a laurel wreath or a diadem, they push a crown of thorns onto His head. Thorns are a sign of judgment and punishment for sin (see Genesis 3:17-18). Now those thorns are used to hurt and humiliate Jesus.
The King wears the crown of thorns. The Son of David bears the punishment for our sins. What a striking image of God’s love for sinners!