Jesus Wears a Crown of Thorns

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe . . .  When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
John 19:2, 5

Again, I am struck by how the King of the Universe accepted the mocking of these soldiers.  He, who was (and is) the eternal King, with a crown so dazzling and bright we cannot imagine, was "brought down a notch" by these simple . . . can I say, stupid, human beings.

When Pilate presented Jesus to the crowds, with this "crown" on His head, with what I can only assume is a ratty robe in a royal color . . . Jesus must have looked like a disgrace.  He must have seem so humbled, so put in His place.  The priests must have been beside themselves with the visual.

Some king, they must have thought.

I think there was someone else who was excited to see Jesus this way.

We were on vacation recently in Pigeon Forge, and went to see a musical called, "The Miracle," which was based on the life of Christ.  It began with an angel, with a six foot wing span, flying in from the back of the theater, over the audience, onto the stage.

He was beautiful.  Compelling.  A voice as rich as I've ever heard.

And one more thing.

He was Lucifer.

The musical started with the rebellion in heaven, and throughout Jesus' life, Lucifer was there.  He was one of the shepherds at the manger.  He was playing mind games on Judas.  He was one of the chief priests.

And of course, He was at the temptation.  He was at the cross.  He was always around Jesus.

I imagine that at the moment Jesus was presented to the crowd, wearing thorns on His head, blood dripping down His face, this robe thrown around His shoulders . . . I imagine that Lucifer was cackling.  He loved every moment of seeing Jesus - whom he would have known as King, in heaven, before his own fall - as a man, beaten and disgraced by other men.  Mere men.  I can almost see Lucifer's arms spread wide, thinking, "this is my day!  This is my moment!"

Satan knew.  He knew that this man was the same King that David sang about: 

Who is this King of glory?
   The LORD strong and mighty,
   the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
   lift them up, you ancient doors,
   that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
   The LORD Almighty—
   he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:8-10

Satan knew.  Think about that.  He KNEW Jesus as the King of glory.  What a moment this must have been for him, how he must have reveled in what he thought was a victory.

Thorns pushed deeply into His skull.  Blood, dripping from head to toe. 

Some king, Satan must have thought.  I'll show Him!  I can make this get even worse.  Humiliation?  You ain't seen nothing yet.  Pain?  Oh, just wait!  Torture?  This will be the worst a human as ever experienced.

Some king.

Aren't you glad that's not the end of the story??  Amen!