09 The Crown of Thorns - He Chose the Nails (Pieces of Passion Series) (MP3)

There is a painting in Milan, Italy which portrays a small angel touching the crown of thorns. He is reaching up to feel one of the points of the crown with his finger. A look of wonder is on his innocent face. He is puzzled by the pointed wreath. What does it do? Why was it made? And, most of all, how did it end up on the scalp of Jesus? Unlike, the small angel, we are not surprised. We’ve read the passages and seen the paintings. We’re acquainted with the crown.

We’re also acquainted with the cruelty behind the crown. Thorny points are not new to us. We’ve both forced them and felt them. Pain is not foreign to our world. But it would be to the world of an angel. He’d seen crowns of gold. But a crown of pain? Small wonder the angel was puzzled. Was there actually a seraph who touched the crown? I don’t know. But he would have been amazed. We would do well to be the same. This diadem speaks not only of Friday’s events; it symbolizes the entire life of Jesus. His coming, his living, and his suffering are all represented in the soldiers’ circlet. May I show you what I mean?