JESUS CAME OUT, WEARING THE CROWN OF THORNS AND THE PURPLE ROBE (JOHN19:5)

IN THE GOSPELS CHRIST IS OFTEN SHOWN TO BE LIKE A LAMB BEING LED TO THE SLAUGHTER DURING THE HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JOHN, HOWEVER, EMPHASISES HOW THE LORD JESUS, THOUGH AWARE OF THAT PATHWAY TO THE CROSS, WENT IT IN HIS OWN STRENGTH, AS CORRESPONDS TO THE CHARACTER OF THE BURNT OFFERING.

IT BEGINS WITH THE LORD IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE MEETING THE COMPANY INTENT ON CAPTURING HIM WITH DIGNITY AND MAJESTY. ''JESUS THEREFORE, KNOWING ALL THINGS THAT WOULD COME TO HIM, WENT FORWARD'' (JOHN18:4). THE SON OF GOD WAS NOT TAKEN BY SURPRISE AT THE COURSE OF EVENTS. HE HAD KNOWN OF JUDAS' PLANNED BETRAYAL AND THE SOMBRE THOUGHTS AND PLANS OF THE LEADERS OF HIS PEOPLE. BUT HE ALSO KNEW HIS FATHER'S THOUGHTS AND WAS IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH THEM. SO HE WENT TOWARDS HIS CAPTORS AND SURRENDERED TO THEM WILLINGLY.


TODAY'S VERSE GIVES US ONE OF THE MOST MOVING SCENES DURING THAT MEMORABLE NIGHT. HAVING BEEN SCOURGED BY THE ROMANS, AND CONTEMPTUOUSLY DRESSED IN A PURPLE ROBE AND CROWNED WITH A CROWN OF THORNS, JESUS LEAVES THE PRAETORIUM. MADE THUS DISDAINFUL, THE SON OF GOD COMES INTO THE SIGHT OF THE STIRRED UP CROWD, WHO SHOUT HATEFULLY, ''CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!''

A FEW MOMENTS LATER WE SEE OUR LORD GOING OUT OF JERUSALEM ''BEARING HIS CROSS'' AND GOING TO ''A PLACE CALLED THE PLACE OF A SKULL'' (CH.19 :17). JERUSALEM HAS REJECTED ITS KING. SO JESUS LEAVES THE CITY TO SUFFER AND DIE OUTSIDE THE GATE.