He Did Not Remove The Thorns.
Jesus was upright, a man of righteousness.
Jesus' crown of thorns was ample visible testimony to the truth that pain attempted to rule Him.
The crown tore Jesus' scalp, dripped His blood and stripped the temples - yet Jesus never removed it!
This man crowned by pain sought no relief. It would be for another to release Him from these thorns of hatred.
To this day, the heads of so many who stand for righteousness wear crowns of thorns, puncturing their very vessel of life.
As with Jesus these crowns can be placed upon the righteous by those unrighteous who rule them.
These crowns are woven with the thorns of:
- lies, hatred and injustice
- rejection, betrayal and collapse
- accusation, anger and abuse
- humiliation, despising and indignity - all emotions that first crushed He who was familiar with suffering.
The oppression of these crowns delivers misery to the human body and affliction to the human soul. Yet, paradoxically the same pain brings life to the human spirit, from the Holy Spirit.
... that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18b)
There is a good life, a better one that no earthly pain can tear away.
It is in suffering that true joy is learned, it is from the Crown of Thorns that the spirit arises.
Today any righteous head hung low, now surrounded by the impermanent thorns of earth mirrors this 2000 year old bowed head.
Yet the thorns will be released by another, by He who now lives. It is to be exchanged for a permanent Crown of Glory.
... and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away (1 Peter 5:4)
Mimic Jesus, carry the hurtful crown for resurrection awaits. He turns wailing into dancing and misery into ruling.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"In my deepest wound I saw Your glory and it dazzled me." ~ St Augustine
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"LISTENING to JESUS" ... 2016 Lay Ministry Convention - Book Here