"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!" -- Matthew 27:29
They "took the reed and smote Him on the head." What vile treatment for the King of kings and Lord of lords! For the first time, en route to the cross, blood flowed--from His head. "Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe." James G. Deck writes poetically and truly that "He looks so lovely wearing His crown of thorns;" yet a new glory adorns His brow. He’s the King! All wisdom is His.
Because He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, "God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name; that, at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).
Oh, "the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:19-23).
That head once filled with bruises is Head over all. True, we "do not yet see all things put under Him; but we see Jesus, crowned with glory and honor--He, "Who, by the power of God, tasted death for every man."
That blood that flowed from His head is the evidence of the purchase price and His right to the title "King of kings and Lord of lords," and for us there to read our title to Glory through His blood.
Mark tells us that His hands were nailed to the cross--those hands that served God and man. "He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life, a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
We might ask, "What could He possibly do, nailed helplessly to the cross?" Praise God, the weakness of God is stronger than men. He was crucified in weakness, but, there nailed, "He took that which was against us out of the way, nailing it to His cross." "He came, not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him." He prayed, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done." His finest, perfect work was done at Calvary.
Three days later, two disciples saw Him as, invited into their home as a guest, He became the Host at their table. "He broke the bread and gave thanks for it." He was made known to them in breaking of bread. Still He does the same today, as two or three meet in His Name to remember Him in the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup.
His outstretched, nail-pierced hands, blood trickling down, present the clear evidence of His purchase price. He is still not only our King, but the faithful Servant of His people.
But, what about those feet of His? Luke, who writes of our Lord as the ideal Man--God and Man in one blessed Person--focuses on His feet--the way He walked here among men. At the close of that book, we see the Saviour doing what He still does in resurrection. He, on the resurrection morning, drew near and walked with the discouraged disciples.
Those feet had been pierced at Calvary. In virtue of His life’s perfect walk--holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners--He had every right to go back to heaven, as a Man. But, ah, He said, "I could go alone, but I will not go out free." "Jesus, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end" (John 13:1).
"When the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face as a flint to go to Jerusalem." He prayed, "Father, what shall I say? Save Me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour." Those feet would not stop short of Calvary. Those bloodied, nail-pierced feet tell the story--He went all the way to Calvary for you and me.
Finally, the blood of Christ flowed after His death. While the soldiers broke the bones of the two thieves on the crosses next to Christ, they did not break His bones, because they saw that He was dead already. But one of them took a spear and thrust it into the heart of Christ--a heart that could only love. His side--He’s God--His love passes knowledge. From that dead body, "the blood flowed forth to save," for "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin" (Heb. 9:22).
The blood didn’t flow to show that He was dead (the soldiers had already determined that), but to show us WHO died. Blood does not flow from dead bodies. When the heart’s action stops, blood stops.
John writes to tell us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And, believing, you might have His Name. Of the four gospel writers, only John gives us a view of Christ’s heart
Five times over (though never referring to himself by name), John speaks of himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." This is the right of every blood-bought child of God, for each can say with gratitude, "the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me!" (Gal. 2:20).
Was it for me, for me alone
The Saviour left His glorious throne,
The dazzling splendors of the sky,
Was it for me He came to die?
Was it for me He wept and prayed,
My load of sin before Him laid;
That night within Gethsemane,
Was it for me, that agony?
Was it for me He bowed His head
Upon the cross, and freely shed
His precious blood--that crimson tide,
Was it for me the Saviour died?
It was for me, yes, all for me;
O love of God, so great, so free;
O wondrous love, I’ll shout and sing:
He died for me, my Lord and King!