There is a message in Crown of Thorne's. Jesus Christ who is God (Titus 2:13, Colossians 2:9) wore the crown of thrones as He died for our sins on the cross. Our Lord Jesus was acquainted with grief and suffering (John 19, Isaiah 53), then He was taken to glory and shall return in glory (Revelation 19:11-16). In order to gain our crown of glory, "And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing," (2 Timothy 4:8) we must first wear a crown of thrones. This means we as Christians must be prepared to suffer as Jesus Christ suffered (1 Peter 2:21). For we are told by Apostle Paul, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many." (2 Corinthians 1:3-11). The Apostle Paul's words are very revealing, "we despaired of lfie itself," this means the persecution and terror was excessive. We then have glimpse from the Apostle of just how far the tribulation of Christian can go. Then we are told by Jesus and the Apostles that suffering is normal: "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5), "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you," (1 Peter 5:10), "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name," (1 Peter 4:12-19), "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world," (John 16:33), "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies," (2 Corinthians 4:8-10), "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," (2 Timothy 3:12), "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple," (Luke 14:27), "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," (Philippians 1:29), "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 1:6-7), "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it," (1 Corinthians 10:13), "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," (Philippians 3:10), "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. " (Matthew 5:10-12), "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps," (1 Peter 2:19-21), "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church," (Colossians 1:24), "And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?," (Luke 9:23-25), "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him," (2 Timothy 2:3-4), "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:35-39), "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil," (1 Peter 3:17), "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin," (1 Peter 4:1), "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved," (Matthew 10:22), "But the one who endures to the end will be saved," (Matthew 24:13), "And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ," (Acts 5:40-42), "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name," (1 Peter 4:16), and, "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:17-18).
The crown of thorns was worn by Christ, "The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe," (John 19:2), "and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said." (Matthew 27:29). We as Christians are to wear one too, just as we pick up a cross, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). We must suffer for a while (2 Corinthians 1:3-11) and then when we repose or Christ returns, whichever comes first, we shall receive a crown of glory. Our Lord Jesus told us suffering was part of our lot as Christians. Sadly, Western Churches under Constantine's Prosperity Church and Affluent Gospel have bought the idea that we shall prosper and store up riches, instead of suffer, when Jesus said "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be," (Matthew 6:19-21)and "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). The Crown of Thorns is our wedding ring in this life, we shall exchange it for ring of gold and precious jewels in our crown when we see Christ. Like our God and Savior Jesus, we must embrace the thorned crown, and stop resisting the suffering. We must understand every thorn, every person and circumstance that pricks at our hearts and heads, is a chance to grow in maturity (Philippians 3:15) and be like our God and Savior by suffering (John 15:20).
Most people want to play a "Game of Thrones" in fact it what the fallen angels have taught mankind since before Noah (Genesis 6:4-6, Revelation 7:7-17, Jude 1:6). But we are not to play a Game of Thrones, but put on a Crown of Thorns. We are to imitate Christ and seek His Kingdom which is not of this world (John 18:36) and is coming on clouds with Christ Himself (Revelation 1:7). Our mission is not to conquer the earth, and vie for power on Capital Hill, Wall Street, and Media, but to share the Gospel of Peace and Salvation with all people. Until this Gospel is preached to all people (Matthew 24:14), the LORD Jesus delays His return (2 Peter 3:3-16), for He desires all to repent of their sins and believe in Him (2 Peter 3:9). Sadly so many brothers and sisters in Christ have gotten deceived into playing a "Game of Thrones" in guise of Christian leadership, that they have forgotten the example of the Emmanuel. The Apostle Paul told us, "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again." (1 Corinthians 11:26). This was not suppose to be merely on Good Friday, but every Sunday was suppose to be mini-Good Friday, and by looking at Christ's Sacrificial Death on cross we are reminded of our salvation through Him, and to follow His example as reconcilers (2 Corinthians 5:20), teaching people that Jesus has reconciled them to God through His blood, Death, and Resurrection. We were not called to pick up swords, but crosses (Matthew 16:24), to wear a crown of thorns and recognize we already have thrones in heaven (Ephesians 2:6). In fact, if we endure to the end, keep believing, confessing, and following Jesus we are promised to sit on His throne (Revelation 3:21). The thrones of this earth will perish and pass away and erode and turn to dust (2 Peter 3, Revelation 21:1-4). Seek not the kingdoms of this world, but instead seek the Kingdom of God which is unseen but will be seen at Christ's Second Coming!
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