The Blood of Christ in the crowning with thorns

The flogging was a legal punishment, applied to those condemned, as preparation for death; but the crowning with thorns was a mockery by the soldiers because He had said that He was the “King of the Jews.” Some say it was not a crown, but a helmet that covered His entire head.

The previous night, according to the Gospel of Matthew, in the house of Caiaphas, Jesus was asked if he was the Messiah, and he confirmed it, provoking the wrath of the High Priest, who accused him of blasphemy for saying that he was the Son of God, and declared him condemned to death.

In the crowning with thorns, Jesus appears as a "poor thing," "an unfortunate soul who cannot defend himself from the scorn and laughter of the soldiers: 'guess who hit you'.".

On the night of the crowning with thorns, Jesus feels the loneliness and abandonment by his Father and his followers, which he will later express on the cross, because he is being mocked and laughed at by others. 

The prophet Isaiah had said about the Servant of Yahweh:

“I offered my back to those who beat me… I did not turn my back on those who insulted and beat me… He suffered punishment for our good… When he was mistreated, he did not open his mouth like a lamb led to the slaughter… no one worried about his death…” 

The Servant of Yahweh also gives meaning and illuminates certain expressions in the psalms: “"I am a worm, not a man, a reproach to men and scorn to the people; all who see me laugh at me and shake their heads… God forbid if he truly loves him."”. 

Jesus' silent attitude indicates to us that God is gentleness and has great patience with us. 

Pilate finds no reason to condemn Jesus and tries to tell the people that his reign is not dangerous to them, so he presents him in public disfigured with a crown of thorns, a reed scepter, and a purple robe: “Behold the man.” Despite everything, the people, encouraged by their leaders, shout: “Crucify him! Let him be condemned to death for blasphemy and for claiming to be the Son of God!” As Jesus remains silent and seeing that he cannot convince the people, Pilate says: “Here is your king!” and they shouted back, “Crucify him!”

Daily commitments

From all that has been said, what can help us to live the spirituality of the Most Precious Blood? How can we bring this event into our lives?

1- We must have more faith in God each day. Despite our sins, He loves us and is patient with us.

2- When we live and speak the truth, like Jesus, we shouldn't care about the mockery or criticism of others.

3- We need to try to discover God's presence in all people, especially in the poor, the marginalized, those persecuted and condemned for the sake of truth.

4- If someone harms us, even if their appearance is repulsive, God is in them, and if we look at them that way, we will treat them differently.

5- We shouldn't be scandalized by anyone. Each person, like us, always acts according to their own motives and reasons, and we can't judge everyone by the same standard.

6- We shouldn't crucify anyone with our words or actions, trying to make them disappear because they bother us, or are inconvenient, because they've achieved what we haven't, or because they have what we don't have.

(P Paulino CPPS)