The Crowned Christ in Humiliation, Exaltation, and Glory

Scene the First.

In the barrack room of Pilate’s Praetorium, Jerusalem. A cohort of coarse soldiery, holding a mock coronation, enacting a mock investiture. In the centre of the mob there stands a Man, THE Man Christ Jesus. “And when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon His head” (Mt. 27:29). Earth had seen many a sad sight, witnessed many a tragedy of human sin and wrong, but never one like this. Here, Jesus the Nazarene, Son of God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, stands “despised and rejected of men,” the object of man’s hate and scorn, with a thorny chaplet on His bleeding brow, mocked, scorned, spit upon by the creatures of His hand, rejected by His own nation, the people He had come to bless.

Never had man’s hatred toward God and Christ and heaven, been so fully shown before. Never had men thrown off all reserve, and taken the devil’s side against God and His Christ, as in that dark scene. And God has not forgotten it (Acts 4:26-27). Nor will He ever forget it. For that thorn-crowned Christ, spit upon, struck in the face, and mocked with taunt and scorn, is the one Man on this earth who never crossed His will. This scene enacted within is to become visible to all in due time. “Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns” (John 14:5). He could not be hid. Men of every tongue and wondering hosts of heaven must gaze upon “that sight.” Sinners of all nations must see it and bow. His must be the Victor’s fame. He endured the Cross, despised the shame. And His must be the joy and crown. His ruby blood drops were its imperishable jewels, they shall never lose their value. For God saw that great sight, He assessed it at its proper value, and the ages to come will tell in many spheres its infinite worth.

That crown, ’mid Israel’s cruel scorn,

Marked Him as God’s anointed King.

Scene the Second.

“We see Jesus, crowned with glory and honour” (Heb. 2:9). Crowned already with “the Victor’s crown” (Newberry). Not here, but yonder in the highest heaven, whither He has gone. Crowned in acknowledgment of His victory already won. Crowned in token of His acceptability to God, the present acknowledgment of His perfect work. Seated too He is, up there. Not yet on His own throne, but on His Father’s throne (Rev. 3:21), awaiting that hour in which He will be called to occupy His own throne, and “take” unto Him His great power, already bestowed (Rev. 12:17) and, using it, “reign.”

Scene the Third.

“I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He that sat on him. And on His head were many diadems.” They are all His by right. He has won them, won them by His Cross. The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He will yet be “Governor among the nations.” All nations shall serve Him, and all shall “call Him blessed.” Earth, as well as heaven, will own His sovereign rule then. The usurper’s power shall cease and the long-cherished hope will be fulfilled. All redeemed mankind will then join to sing—

Bring forth the Royal Diadem,

And crown Him, Lord of all.

And the crowning will be with not one, but “many diadems,” or kingly crowns, (as the word in Revelation 19:12, R.V. is). For the glory of the celestial and the glories of the terrestrial will all be His in the coming days of His power when He comes to reign.

And the crowns that were worn on the False One’s brow,

Shall be worn by their rightful Lord.

For God’s King will then be on His holy hill (Ps. 2:6), and in that day “the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9), and His rule owned everywhere (Ps. 72:17).

J.Ri.

Article series: Our Glorious Lord