The Crown of Thorns

Article #12 on the Passion of Jesus Christ

(Matt. 27:27-31, Mk. 15:16-20, Jn. 19:2-3)

Contextual Details for Harmonizing the Gospels:

Luke completely overlooks this event in “the common hall”, the same place that is called the “Praetorium”, where a whole band of Romans soldiers assembled to make a mockery of divine majesty (Matt. 27:27, Mk. 15:16). Matthew and Mark record what happened with significant detail, but they do not focus on the order of events with respect to the 2nd & 3rd appearance of Jesus before Pilate. The words “when” & “delivered” in Matthew 27:26 & Mark 15:15 allow for John’s clarification without contradiction (John 19:16). John provides the exact order of events in John 19:1-16.

“We see in Jesus the Monarch of the realms of misery, the Chief among ten thousand sufferers. Never say, “I am a great sufferer.” What are our griefs compared with His?” – C.H. Spurgeon, The Crown of Thorns

Upon arising from the scourging block, Jesus was conducted to a place called “the common hall” or the “Praetorium” (Matt. 27:27, Mk. 15:16). Then a most disturbing scene began to develop. The soldiers that brought Jesus to this location began to “call together the whole band” of Roman soldiers (Mk. 15:16). Apparently, everyone who was called then came willingly to the assembly. Both Matthew and Mark are explicit to mention that “the whole band” ended up coming to this one location for what was about to take place (Matt. 27:27, Mk. 15:16).

Technically speaking, the Roman military was separated into bands that were called cohorts, and each cohort consisted of 400 to 600 soldiers. One can only imagine what was said to beckon everyone to come together! Nevertheless, we know that the attention of everyone there was hellishly fixated on Jesus, as Matthew emphasized, because when the soldiers were coming, it was written that they “gathered unto Him” (Matt. 27:27).

“And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, And began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him…” – Mark 15:16-20

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. 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! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him…” – Matt. 27:27-31

“Though myriads of holy angels adored Him, though they would have gladly left their high estate in Heaven to smite His foes and set Him free, He voluntarily subjected Himself to all the ignominy that I have described – and much more which is utterly indescribable – for who knows what things were said and done in that rough guard-room which holy pens could not record, or what foul jests were made, and what obscene remarks were uttered, which were even more shocking to Christ than the filthy spit which ran down His blessed cheeks in that time of shameful mockery? Ah, my Brothers and Sisters, you cannot imagine how low your Lord stooped on your account!” – C.H. Spurgeon, Mocked of the Soldiers

In a frenzy of demonic zeal, the soldiers made a mockery of divine majesty! A significant amount of time and effort was put into this affair. Some soldiers began to strip Jesus of His garments, and others rushed to get a scarlet robe, while others were taking the time to make a crown of thorns by platting or braiding various branches of thorns together, and yet another went and got a reed. Amidst the roars and shouts of laughter, as each component of their entertainment came together, the mockery commenced, and then the violence.

“For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed Me…” – Ps. 22:16

“Behold, today, the Lily among thorns, Purity, itself, in the midst of opposing sin! See here the Sacrifice caught in the thicket, and held fast there, as a victim in our place to fulfill the ancient type of the ram held by the bushes which Abraham slew instead of Isaac!” – C.H. Spurgeon, The Crown of Thorns

Hundreds of soldiers proceeded to salute and hail Jesus as the King of the Jews, even bowing down upon their knees before Him as mock worshipers. Chaos ensued as the laughter turned into rage and the rage into laughter as the soldiers competitively indulged in the animalistic celebration. Even though they wouldn’t admit it, many soldiers felt frightened by the injuries they were suffering upon their consciences as they participated in the mockery, but instead of humbling themselves, they became angry and furious at the thought of such a weak Man intimidating them (Ps. 109:4-5). Feeling threatened by the holiness of the Son of God, the soldiers proceeded to inflict harm upon Him: some began to spit upon Jesus, and others took turns smiting Him in the head with the reed that they had put in His hand, while still more “smote Him with their hands” (Jn. 19:3). Such a beating deserves a close analysis to comprehend the physical and medical implications of everything.

“The crown of thorns is believed to consist of a crown made from a thorny plant such as the “Syrian Christ Thorn” which has sharp closely spaced thorns. This was the crown that was “platted” and put upon the LORD’s head just after He had been scourged (Matt. 27:29, Mk. 15:17, Jn. 19:2). With the platting together of multiple plants, the crown could easily consist of hundreds of thorns based on the few cm. distance between thorns in a typically observed plant.” – Dr. Preethi Morris

With hundreds of soldiers participating in this episode of the Atonement, every detail provided by the Evangelists must be fully appreciated. When Mark said that “they…mocked Him”, he was informing the reader that “the whole band” erupted in a chorus of blasphemy and reproach for a significant amount of time (Mk. 15:16-20). Meanwhile, out of the hundreds present in the assembly, can you imagine some 20 or 30 soldiers angrily spitting upon Jesus Christ, as each soldier was individually moved to make his very own mark of contempt upon the body of the Son of God? This is what Matthew was portraying when he said that “they spit upon Him” (Matt. 27:30).

Similarly, while speaking about what “the whole band” was doing, John said that “they smote Him with their hands”, which means that many among the hundreds were taking turns beating Jesus Christ throughout the whole ordeal (John 19:3). Apparently, those who could get their hands upon the reed were doing the same thing with it! For, both Matthew and Mark said that “they…took the reed, and smote Him on the head”, which would indicate that they were taking turns smiting Jesus on the crown of thorns, and with every blow the thorns were piercing deeper into His head (Matt. 27:30, Mk. 15:19).

“Through repeated beatings and blows to the head, there would be activation of the two major nerves that enervate all of the face and head: the trigeminal nerve, which traverses the face, eyes, nose, mouth, and jaws, and the greater occipital branch which supplies the back of the head. When the trigeminal nerve is irritated significantly, this may trigger a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia, which causes a severe and stabbing pain that is triggered by light touch, light, light wind, talking, eating, etc. The pain is described as unparalleled: spasms of stabbing, lancinating, explosive, and like an electric shock (Zakrzewska (1997)). Trigeminal nerve pain is described by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) as the most excruciating pain known to humanity."

"Additionally, the wounds inflicted by the thorns would have caused substantial blood loss. According to Gospel accounts the angry mob of people, the whole band of Roman soldiers, took the reed from Christ and repeatedly smote His head. With each blow, it may be estimated that roughly 10 or more thorns could penetrate the scalp before being broken by the pressure with each blow applied--perhaps multiple blows at a time, and one after another (Matt. 27:30, Mk. 15:19, Jn. 19:3).” – Dr. Preethi Morris

Medically speaking, this was a physical beating that could strike the Son of God with the most excruciating pain known to mankind! Literally, as the thorns penetrated the skin and plunged deep into the physical tissue of Jesus Christ, when the crown of thorns was beaten into His head, this would have triggered the nerves that are capable of ministering a stabbing and explosive pain that is comparable to an electric shock! However, not even this could be credited as the primary source of pain in the Passion of Jesus Christ. Why? There is a pain unknown to mankind that was the real cause of suffering.

Sovereignty designed every detail of this moment as a testimony of the Passion of Jesus Christ. The physical realm speaks volumes about the spiritual realm. The physical things being endured do amplify the spiritual things. In a horrifying display of human depravity, this is only a snapshot of a greater picture: namely, all that the omniscient gaze of God endures as billions of sinners on earth are boiling with contempt against the Most High! Such hatred then marred the image of divine love, making the face of Jesus Christ to bleed! Nevertheless, no amount of hatred could sour the love of God in the heart of the Savior.

“He who sees Jesus crowned with thorns will loathe to look on self, except it be through tears of contrition. This thorn at the breast will make men sing, but not with notes of self-congratulation – the notes will be those of a dove moaning for her mate.” – C.H. Spurgeon, The Crown of Thorns

This scene conveys to us an inconceivable mystery. The feeling of thorns is unpleasant in any earthly scenario, but to have them grinding upon your skull and activating your nerves, this would preoccupy anyone’s mind in such circumstances. Nevertheless, something else altogether was exciting the neurons in the mind of Jesus Christ with unspeakable anguish! The human brain consists of hundreds of billions of neurons. Literally, a neurological map of what the brain is capable of thinking and feeling would be comparable to a map of the stars of the Milky Way galaxy! We are talking about 80 cubic inches of the most complex organic material in the physical universe. Nevertheless, something much more impressive was taking place in the spiritual universe in this assembly of Roman soldiers.

The curse of God upon sinners is symbolized by the thorn. It is the unwanted presence of something ugly and unpleasant growing with that which is good and beautiful. In Eden, the pure joy and blessedness of life was cursed, and hereby the lives of sinners are fraught with pain and difficulty. Speaking of this, the LORD said, “thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee” (Gen. 3:18). Literally, without the fall of Adam there would be no thorns at all! When sin entered into the world everything changed (Gen. 3:17-18). Even so, when sin entered into the body of Jesus Christ through imputation everything changed (Rom. 8:3-4, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:21-22).

“Where I see the great Substitute for sinners put to such shame, scorn and ridicule, my heart says to itself, ‘See what sin deserves?’ There is nothing in the world that more richly deserves to be despised, abhorred, condemned, than sin! If we look at it aright, we shall see that it is the most abominable thing, the most shameful thing in the whole universe. Of all the things that ever were, this is the thing which most of all deserves to be loathed and spurned. It is not a thing of God’s creating, remember – it is an abortion – a phantom of the night which plucked a host of angels from their thrones in Heaven, drove our first parents out of Paradise and brought upon us unnumbered miseries.” – C.H. Spurgeon, Mocked of the Soldiers

“They had scourged Him till probably there was no part of His body which was not bleeding beneath their blows – except His head – and now that head must be made to suffer, too. Alas, our whole head was sick and our whole heart faint – and so He must be made, in His chastisement, like unto us in our transgression. There was no part of our humanity without sin – and there must be no part of His humanity without suffering. If we had escaped, in some measure, from iniquity, so might He have escaped from pain. But as we had worn the foul garment of transgression and it covered us from head to foot, even so must He wear the garments of shame and derision from the crown of His head, even to the sole of His feet” – C.H. Spurgeon, The Crown of Thorns

The perspective of our Lord is symbolically communicated in this dreadful scene. God the Son, as an omniscient Savior, was filled with love while looking at the most hateful, insulting, and blasphemous forms of human depravity. This is a testimony of unmerited love. Jesus Christ didn’t die for good men! No. From Heaven’s perspective, spiritually speaking, sin and sinners are a vexing force of constant pain, like “thorns in your eyes” or “thorns in your sides” (Num. 33:55, Josh. 23:13, Judges 2:3). Nevertheless, even with a stabbing sense of omniscience – in comprehending the depths of human depravity – Jesus Christ willingly and whole-heartedly died for sinners.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8

“O head so full of bruises!
Brow that its lifeblood loses!
Oh great humility.
Upon His face are falling
Indignities most galling!
He bears them all for me.”