But you know what's not common? it's not common for little girls to want to dress up like peasants or serfs like none of my kids ever came to me and said dad do you have any filthy rags laying around that I could robe myself in so I can look like a medieval peasant and nothing wrong with being a peasant right I mean it's not like people like there's something bad about that I mean peasants also they lived at the same time as princes and princesses so why is it that lots of little girls want to dress up like princesses but nobody wants to dress up like a peasant well the reason is probably because princesses possess the kinds of qualities that most people desire for their own lives right like princesses have privileges princesses are pampered princesses have the resources to buy beautiful clothing they live in luxury and they have authority when they speak people listen to them and most of all princesses are treasured they're they're treated with dignity and respect and honor and it's no wonder when you consider these things no wonder little girls want to dress up like princesses everyone in their right mind wants those things that come with being royalty but see even though everybody wants those things not everybody has those privileges again think about peasants and serfs right they lived their lives really the opposite of royalty rather than wealth they had poverty they didn't have nice clothes they were disempowered they were not treated with dignity or honor they were looked down on and despised and throughout history it was often the peasants who were sent off to fight in wars to risk and sacrifice their lives while the king stayed home and enjoyed the benefits which came from the sufferings of his people those people went and fought and died sent by the king to expand his kingdom and the king was the one who benefited the most from the sacrifices and the sufferings of those people
[00:02:04]
But see, even though everybody wants those things, not everybody has those privileges. Again, think about peasants and serfs, right? They lived their lives really the opposite of royalty. Rather than wealth, they had poverty. They didn't have nice clothes, they were disempowered, they were not treated with dignity or honor, they were looked down on and despised. And throughout history, it was often the peasants who were sent off to fight in wars, to risk and sacrifice their lives while the king stayed home and enjoyed the benefits which came from the sufferings of his people. Those people went and fought and died, sent by the king to expand his kingdom, and the king was the one who benefited the most from the sacrifices and the sufferings of those people.
[00:03:19]
Here in the Gospel of Matthew, we have seen that Jesus is a king. He is the descendant of King David, the greatest king in Israel's history, and that makes him the rightful heir to the throne of Israel. But also, Jesus isn't just a king. He is the king of kings. He's the long -awaited Messiah, the savior of the world who was promised by the prophets, and he has come to establish God's eternal kingdom. And in the passage we're looking at today, we're going to see Jesus's kingship on display, but not in the way that you might expect. You see, instead of privilege, Jesus is going to be mocked. Instead of honor, Jesus is going to be humiliated. Instead of glory, he's going to get disgrace.
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Throughout his entire life, Jesus chose to live not as a pampered monarch, but he chose to live as a humble servant. And he willingly took upon himself all of those things that people in this world strive to avoid. Poverty, rejection, disgrace, mistreatment. And the question is, why? Why did he do that? Why would anyone do that? Why would the king of kings embrace the life of a peasant? Why would he choose humiliation and suffer disgrace?
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And here's the answer. It's because unlike the kings of this world who send their people off to fight for them, Jesus is a different kind of king. Jesus, the king of kings, he came to fight for his people and to sacrifice himself so that we who were poor and powerless might be lifted up, so that we might become sons and daughters, princes and princesses in his kingdom.
[00:05:47]
On the cross, Jesus bore the curse of sin so that we might receive the crown of life. Let me repeat that summary statement for you one more time, and then we'll use it as our outline for studying through the verses in this section. On the cross, Jesus bore the curse of sin so that we might receive the crown of life.
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It's interesting because what is happening to Jesus in this moment, on the one hand, it's a terrible display of human violence and cruelty. And yet at the same time, as these people are making these choices to hurt and humiliate Jesus, God's perfect plan is also coming to fruition. And the fact that both of these things are true at the same time, I think that's something that's often difficult for us to wrap our heads around. How it's possible that people make decisions and do sometimes terrible things, and yet those decisions that people make don't derail God's good and perfect plan.
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In fact, all of the evil and suffering in this world, it highlights the reason why Jesus came and why Jesus did what he did on the cross. You see, when we ask that question, if God really loves us, then why doesn't he do something to put an end to all the evil and suffering in the world? Friends, the answer to that question is that God does love us and he has done something. He has acted in history to put an end to all the suffering and evil in the world and what he did is exactly what we see right here in this passage.
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I believe that one of the most overlooked aspects of Jesus' crucifixion is a small detail that's found right here in verse 29. It says that twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. Now, that might seem like an incidental detail, kind of like the robe or the reed, but this crown of thorns is incredibly significant and here's why. Because all the way back in the book of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, we're told that thorns are a symbol of the curse which came upon the world because of sin.
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You see, when sin entered the world, it affected everything. From us as human beings to even nature and creation itself. Whereas before, thorns and thistles apparently had not existed. Now they began to grow. In other words, thorns are a symbol of the curse of sin which results in death. And this curse of sin, it affects all of us. It affects everything. It doesn't just affect the world out there, but it affects every single one of us in here.
[00:18:13]
And in the very next chapter of the book of Genesis, after we see that terrible fall into sin, Then we see the effects of sin. We see some of the things that sin does. The very first two children born into this broken world, one of them murders the other out of jealousy. And from there, other atrocities begin to take place. And there's this increasing tension between people and people, and there's distance between people and God.
[00:18:56]
In other words, all of us have been affected in the very core of our being by the curse of sin. It has tainted every one of us, and this curse ultimately leads to death. So what is it that drives people to do terrible things like what we witnessed this past week here in our country? Well, it's the effects of our fallen nature and our sinful desires. And since these things are bound up within our very hearts, friends, what we need most of all is new hearts. We need to be transformed and redeemed from the inside out. And that's exactly what Jesus came to do for us by suffering and dying on the cross.
[00:19:43]
If thorns are a symbol of the curse of sin, then think about the picture of this crown of thorns being placed on Jesus' head. You see, unwittingly, these Roman soldiers, not even realizing what they were doing, when they put that crown of thorns on Jesus' head, they were giving a perfect visual description of what Jesus was accomplishing in that moment as he was taking the curse of sin and death upon himself on our behalf.
[00:20:37]
The mission for which Jesus came to the world ultimately was to become a cursed on our behalf so that we who were accursed because of sin might be set free and redeemed. So that spring could finally come to a land that was under the spell of perpetual winter. So that the burden which has held us down might be lifted. So that the clouds might break and light can shine in. By taking the curse of sin upon himself, Jesus was dealing not just with the symptoms of the problem, he was dealing with the root cause of all the suffering and evil in this world in order to put it to an end forever.
[00:21:53]
And the answer to that question is that on the cross, Jesus was doing something for us. He who never sinned, he took the curse of sin upon himself in order to break break that curse's power over us. And that's pictured for us vividly in this crown of thorns that's placed on Jesus' head.
[00:23:12]
But on the cross, it wasn't only that Jesus took something from us, right? It isn't just that he took the curse from us. But also, on the cross, Jesus provided something for us. That's the next thing that we see here in this passage. You see, on the cross, Jesus bore the curse of sin. Why? So that we might receive the crown of life.
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And what we learned from Simon is that when you really stop to consider who Jesus is and see what he's done, it's actually hard not to believe.
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He doesn't want painkillers while he's hanging on the cross he wants to feel the full force of the suffering which he has come to endure on our behalf.
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This insult that the people brought against Jesus, the insult was, if he really is a savior, then why is he dying? And here's the irony of that question. It was actually by not saving himself that Jesus was saving others. Jesus did have the power to come down from the cross and put an end to his suffering right then and there, but he chose not to because it was through his suffering that he was saving us.
[00:30:08]
As Jesus suffered and died, he was doing it for us. But notice also the result of Jesus' suffering. He, the one who is crowned with the crown of thorns in disgrace, he is now crowned with glory and honor because of what he accomplished through his suffering. And here's the really incredible part. The Bible tells us that for those who put their trust, their faith in Jesus, we also will receive a crown of glory. Just as Jesus receives a crown of glory, we too will partake in that same crown of glory.
[00:31:05]
Now isn't it striking that with each of those crowns that's promised in the Bible, they all come after hardship. Did you notice that? Now the reason why Jesus suffered and died on the cross was to put an end to evil and suffering forever. And yet, we do still live in a world marked by evil, pain, and loss. We saw that again this week, clearly. So why is that? If Jesus came to end evil and suffering, then why does it still exist? Does that mean that Jesus failed in his mission? No. No. The Bible tells us that a new world is coming in which every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more. And yet, just as Jesus, the perfect son of God, suffered, Jesus also promised that in this world, you and I will have tribulation.
[00:32:39]
But what God has provided for us is hope through Jesus that outlasts hardship, that's victorious over death itself. Now you might wonder, if that's true, then why does God wait? Why not just give us that new...world now why not just end sin and death and evil now since he's already done all the work why not just do it what is he waiting for and answers this he's waiting for those people whom he still wants to save those people who he's bringing into his kingdom drawing to his himself who are not here yet he isn't finished yet calling people to himself and i'll tell you this on a personal note i sure am glad he waited for me maybe you are too but you know there are other people too there are other people who will be eternally grateful to receive god's grace and you know what god wants to use you to reach those people he wants you to be an ambassador for him to spread his love and truth to those who don't yet have the joy of knowing him or the hope of eternal life
[00:33:42]
So these terrible events like what we saw this past week you know what they should do they should fill us with a sense of urgency because none of us knows how much longer we've got and tomorrow isn't guaranteed for anybody so whatever it is that god is calling you to do let me encourage you today don't put it off for some of you today is the day when you need to get right with god for others of you god is calling you to take the next step in following him and growing as a disciple and a witness of jesus christ whatever it is that god is calling you to do today don't delay because jesus not only said in this world you will have tribulation but he actually finished that sentence and he said this but take heart i have overcome the world this is the hope that we have in jesus that because he who wore the crown of thorns has overcome we can now receive the crown of life that only he can give
[00:34:59]
And Jesus, even though he was a king, he willingly chose humiliation and disgrace, suffering and death. Rather than a crown of gold, he wore a crown of thorns. Because unlike the kings of this world who make their people sacrifice for them, Jesus came to fight and give his life for us so that we could be lifted up and crowned with life. This is the great exchange of the gospel. He took our curse so we could receive his blessing. He wore our thorns so that we could wear his crown.
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So here's the question for you today. Which crown are you living for? Are you chasing after the crowns of this world? Or are you pursuing the crown that Jesus gives? The crown of glory, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life that comes from faith and following him? Let me encourage you today to respond to what Jesus has done for you by believing in him and by bowing your heart in surrender to him. And as you go from here today, I want to challenge you to go out into this community as ambassadors for Christ. To share his love and truth with the world that desperately needs it. Because on the cross, Jesus bore the curse of sin so that we might receive the crown of life.
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