This Easter Week....The Crown That SpeaksSample

SKULL HILL

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull.”

Skull Hill in Aramaic is Golgotha, and in Latin, Calvariae locus (thus Mt. Calvary), meaning the place of the Skull. I find it interesting that the site of Jesus’ Crucifixion took place on an ancient cliff in Jerusalem shaped like a skull, with two large holes in the hill that resembled eye sockets. Is it ironic or not that the site where Jesus took his last breath was also where the crown of thorns pierced his ‘skull?’

So much took place that week. Contemplate each thorn that pierced Him:

• His triumphant ride on a donkey into Jerusalem. People praised Him as the One sent by God! One week later, the same people shouted, 'Crucify Him!'

•. His Last Passover Meal on Earth

•. Praying with unthinkable stress in Gethsemane. He sweats drops of blood as He submits to God's will.

•. The ultimate betrayal by one of His own, Judas Iscariot (Then 30 silver shekels would be worth about four months’ wages, but today about $340.00)

•. Being arrested in the Garden

•. Denial by Peter

•. Being tried by Pilot and Herod

•. Charged while a criminal is set free

•. Beaten with a Roman Flagrum (Throng Whip embedded with pieces of bone and lead designed to remove flesh)

•. Beaten with fists and Mocked

•. Spat upon

•. Stripped bare

•. Dressed in a royal robe, given a scepter and crown of thorns

•. John said He bore the weight of the cross, and we know that Simon of Cyrene carried it from

the gate to the Skull.

•. Laid on the cross with spikes driven into His palms (wrists) and feet

•. Was taunted on the cross by hecklers and those passing by

•. Was offered sour vinegar

•. Hung on the cross for 3 hours

•. Listened as the soldiers cast lots for His seamless tunic

•. A sign was erected above His Head (Translated in English): “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the

Jews”

• In agony, knew His Mother Mary, and other friends were in anguish as they witnessed His agony

•. Felt forsaken by Father God

•. Was pierced in the side

The very crown meant to mock Him became a Victory Crown because He endured it all.

EASTER TAKEAWAY: When we face a thorn in our flesh, think of all He endured for us.

PRAYER: Father, Forgive us!