This morning I was on the KFUO show, "His Time," with host Pastor Jonathan Fisk. During the show, Pastor Fisk and I were discussing the reading from the treasury this morning from mark 15:16-32. After reading the verse, "And they clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him," (mark 15:17). After reading this, Pastor Fisk asked, "Is there any connection with the crown of thorns to the Old Testament?" At the time I said, "I don't have a connection," and Pastor Fisk then made the connection of the crown of thorns with the curse of the thorns and thistles in Genesis 3. He then made the great point of the curse being put on Adam and how Christ bore that curse for us.

After I was done with the interview I went and looked up the Luther quote he was using and did some more reading. Luther says, "Thorns and thistles it will bring forth for you." here again we are reminded that the earth does not produce anything of this kind on its own, but because of Adam's sin, as He said above in so many words, "on your account." Therefore whenever we see thorns and thistles, weeds and other plants of that kind in a field and in the garden, we are reminded of sin and of the wrath of God as though by special signs. Not only in the churches, therefore, do we hear ourselves charged with sin. All the fields, yes, almost the entire creation is full of such sermons, reminding us of our sin and of God's wrath, which has been aroused by our sin" (LW 1.209).

The thorns and thistles are a sign of the curse, that man is now under the wrath of God the Father. When the crown of thorns was placed on Jesus' head, it is a great proclamation that He bears the curse for us and suffers the wrath of His Father on behalf of all creation. Jesus took Adam's curse that is handed down from generation to generation and He bore it on the cross for us. The curse on account of man was placed on the head of Christ and in exchange the blessing on account of Jesus is placed on man's head for eternal life and salvation. What a blessing that thorns now, because of Jesus, are for our comfort as a reminder that Jesus bore the curse of sin for us and now grants us His righteousness and forgiveness. Blessed are we that we can look at the work of Jesus' hands and see our salvation on His cross.

Peace be with you my friends. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus that says, "Look at my crown. It is borne for you so that you may receive my crown of everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull