Dear Christian friends:

In our lesson tonight we see the soldiers of Pilate put a crown on Jesus' head and a king's robe on his back and a scepter in his hand. Then we see them bow and knell saying, "Hail King of the Jews". These soldiers name Jesus the "king". Do they really mean it? No, if we look closer we see that they are laughing and mocking. That crown is not made of beautiful gold with diamonds, but of sharp thorns; the purple robe is old and dirty; the scepter is only a twig from a tree. They name Jesus "King" but do not really mean it.

Do you also do that to Jesus?

Let us see! We say that Jesus is our King, our Lord and God. When we were baptized and confirmed we promised to love Him and obey Him as our King and Lord.

In the hymn we just sang, "O Jesus, King Most Wonderful," In that hymn we promise to confess Him, adore Him, praise Him and love Him, our wonderful King.

And the Bible tells us to do this: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelations 1:5-6)

But do we really love and serve Him as our great King? Let us see. Our King Jesus says, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Do we obey our King and really "continue" in His Word? Do we read our Bibles everyday? Do we study and think, think about what we read? Do we think that important? (Sarah and Sunday School teacher asking how many have daily Bible reading and prayer at home? Sarah was the only one in the class that raised her hand) If we neglect His Word we mock Him.

He, then, is not really our King, but One we push aside. What about our church attendance? On Sunday one-third are here and two-thirds are gone. And these Lenten Services where we consider how our dear King gave His life for us about one-fifth of our members are present. This also is pushing aside our King. We are not obeying our King's clear command to continue in His Word.

Our King also tells us to love one another: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 13:35) But not true? That often we hate others and are jealous of them and don't wish to talk with them? Then we go to our homes and see pictures of Jesus hanging on the wall and the Bible verses on plaques of Jesus the King. And yet there is much quarreling and even hatred in that home.

We say that Christ is King and put his pictures on the wall, but often in our heart we honor Him not as King.

Then also, if Christ is your King, He is also King ruler over your money and earthly things. But so often we refuse to use our money and earthly things as He teaches and advises. True we bring our church offerings but it is only one or two percent of our wages, very cheap.

The soldiers in our lesson should have put a gold crown with diamonds on Jesus' head, but instead they put on a straw crown of thorns. Our offerings and gifts to Jesus, our King, out to be precious crowns of gold and diamonds, but often we bring straw crowns, because we are so stingy with Him.

Are we any better than these soldiers? I think we are worse. The soldiers did not claim to be His disciples, so when they mocked Him they were honest. But you and I claim to be His disciples and confess that He is our great King and Lord, yet we mock Him often in many careless and thoughtless ways.

Were you there when He was crowned with thorns? Yes, we must confess that we were there, and that we have been there again and again.

But nevertheless, our King, in spite of our unworthiness, forgives us by His mercy, and keeps us in His kingdom with Him. He is able to do this because He has conquered all His enemies and our enemies. He suffered, died and rose again for our salvation and now reigns in glory.

The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty victor's brow.
The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns, Hymn

(Here read Philippians 2:7-11)
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Even in this dark hour of His suffering Jesus thought about His future glory. Before the High Priest Caiaphas He prophesied of His second coming in glory. "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64)

We also now should look forward to His glorious coming with great joy. Although we have often put a crown of thorns on His head, He will on that day give us the crown of everlasting life. Then our hands fully washed by His blood, will be able to crown His dear Head with perfect praise and adoration.

But until He comes, let us try more and more to serve Him as our King - not anymore push Him aside or mock Him. Lets say that He is our King and then prove it by our obedient life. And when we forget and fail, let us be quick to repent and try anew.

Amen.