The Prophetic Word - Day 191: Jesus’ crown was made of thorns.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on 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!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Job—even feeling he was not “deserving” of his awful plight—was willing to suffer the things being allowed by God. His response to his wife’s advice to “curse God and die,” is enigmatic to our human understanding.

“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, Job wasn’t suffering because of his wrongdoing, but because the Lord found him to be an exemplar of righteousness.

“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?””

‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yet, Job was faithful to God—even through his own suffering.

Then, we look at a statement made by Paul concerning his suffering, that also challenges conventional thinking.

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, Paul is anxious to share the “fellowship of [Christ’s] sufferings”!

In fact, Paul was living out what the Lord had said about Paul to Ananias.

“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Paul knew that his suffering had great purpose.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You see, Paul knew that Jesus’ suffering brought our redemption. He also knew that in order to truly partake of the new life Christ afforded, we must be willing to partake of His suffering.

Over the next few days, we will continue to look at the purpose of the “thorns” in our lives. It’s only appropriate, that we should have begun today by considering the fact that the Lord’s crown—as He poured Himself out for our sake—was made of thorns. Indeed, He gladly bore them, considering the work His suffering would produce.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Child of God, how can we shrink back from the suffering that comes because of our love for Him? No! We cannot shrink back!

Let us be encouraged knowing that just as Christ was not alone in His suffering, the Father being with Him, we do not suffer alone, Christ is with us!

Remember, Christ has already overcome the world. And if we stay faithful to Him, even through our suffering, we will share in His victory!

“Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We will consider more concerning our personal “thorns” tomorrow.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#ThePropheticWord