"Twisting Together a Crown of Thorns"

“And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,  and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.  And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:28-31)(Matthew 27:27-31)

At this time, the sinners rose up against Jesus. Not all Jews persecuted Him; many followed Jesus. Those who were unable to grasp the gospel, those who refused the gospel, and those like the Pharisees who had power and who felt threatened by Jesus persecuted Him. Their actions, including mocking, beating, and spitting upon Him, were a manifestation of the sinful nature of humanity. Yet, in His silence and prayers for His persecutors, Jesus demonstrated His love and forgiveness, even in the face of such cruelty.

During his crucifixion, many sinners came to faith in Jesus because they witnessed his goodness and truth and believed in Him as the Son of God. This faith had a profound impact, transforming sinners into believers. A powerful example is Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’s cross. Touched by the Son of God, many theologians say he converted. Even while suffering on the cross, Jesus, for the only time in the Bible, promised someone they would go to heaven, demonstrating the transformative power of faith in Him.

Jesus was crucified with two criminals. As they hung nailed to crosses, the one criminal repented and asked Jesus to remember Him when Jesus entered His kingdom. He believed Jesus was the Son of God. Hanging there on that cross, Jesus told the man that he would be in paradise with Jesus on that day. The man had sinned his whole life, but in his last breaths, he found faith in Christ and was saved.

We are all sinners and have been our whole lives. Like the criminal on the cross, we, too, can be saved despite our sins. Peter wrote, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18). Yet the only way for that to happen is to be like the criminal. We must call out to Christ, professing our faith in Him as the Son of God, and repent our sins. We, too, must ask Christ to remember us.

It is the finished work of Christ that saves through His grace and faith alone. Jesus said so Himself, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (Tetelestai “τετέλεσται”) (John 19:30). This work is complete, immediate, and unconditional. You, my friend, can do nothing more. Come to Him and experience the relief of His finished work.

Choose Life, Get Saved.