#20 PASCHAL FAST ~ Crown of Thorns ~ Isaiah 53:5 ~ # 20 Lenten Meditation ~ 3rd Hour Prayer Station

CROWN OF THORNS 

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O Holy FATHER, Thank YOU for Your Beloved SON+

Whose most noble Head bore the CROWN OF THORNS,

and which same Sacred Head was struck with a reed,

His+ Face with hands and fists.

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Matthew 27

^27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged JESUS, he delivered HIM+ to be crucified.

^27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took JESUS into the common hall, and gathered unto HIM+ the whole band of soldiers.

^27:28 And they stripped HIM+,

and put on HIM+ a scarlet robe.

^27:29 And when they had platted a CROWN OF THORNS,

they put it upon 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!

^27:30 And they spit upon HIM+, and took the reed, and smote HIM+ on the Head. ^27:31 And after that they had mocked HIM+, they took the robe off from HIM+ and put his own raiment on HIM+, and led HIM+ away to crucify HIM+.

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The cruel Roman soldiers were permitted by their superiors to torture, beat, and injure any prisoner condemned to be crucified, it seems. These acts by the soldiers seemingly took place AFTER the LORD JESUS had been scourged, according to Matthew 27:26 and John 19:1.

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Isaiah 53

⁵ But HE+ was wounded for our transgressions, HE+ was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+; and with His+ stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and THE LORD hath laid on HIM+ the iniquity of us all.

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Have we not all pierced HIM+ , over and over again, with our sins , large and small ? our strong Self-Will  ?

Have we not pierced His+ precious Head with the THORNS of our self-indulgences

. . . which strengthen the grip of our already-strong SELF-WILL     

. . .   which lead to our turning a deaf ear to the HOLY SPIRIT

. . . which, unless repented of quickly,  lead to our REBELLION ?

 

His+ Head, skin, and muscle were thoroughly pierced with the tough, dried thorns, sharp as nails. The Roman soldiers would NOT have gently placed that awful crown of thorns upon His+ Head in their cruel frame of mind. 

How about our frame of mind ?

Do we shrug our shoulders and say, “Oh well, I’ll just do what I want this time . . . I can ask His+ forgiveness afterwards” ? 

It is good to be MINDFUL of the pain that our “little” continuing sins cost HIM+, even now.  

Let us therefore do as Scripture says: REPENT and RENOUNCE those “little” continuing  sins that we may stop grieving the HOLY SPIRIT and be restored unto a closer walk with The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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 Early Christians’ 3^rd Hour Prayer ( 9 a.m. )

at the time of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple

Heavenly FATHER, we come before YOU at this 3^rd hour of the ancient day, the hour of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple . . . that same hour that Your Beloved SON+, the LAMB+ of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world, was offered up on the Cross for our sakes.

We thank YOU for the Great Drops of BLOOD HE+ shed in the garden of Gethsemane, after praying all through the night . . . then facing the men who had come with swords and clubs to violently take HIM+.

Thank YOU, O Holy FATHER, that Your Beloved SON+, as the perfect  SON+ of GOD, revealed Your power,  saying “ I AM, ” causing the armed band of men to fall to the ground .

Yet, HE+ did not use this great power for HIMSELF+, revealing HIMSELF+ to be the obedient and perfect SON+ of Man . . . still loving His+ disciples to the uttermost, HE+ requested the armed men to “Let them go,” and thus, His+ frightened disciples could flee away.

For the humiliation HE+ endured for our sakes, we give YOU thanks . . . and also, for the answers that HE+ gave to those who accused HIM+ wrongfully.

Heavenly FATHER, we thank YOU for the times HE+ gave no answer at all to His+ accusers, as a Lamb led to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is silent.

We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate’s hand . . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard . . . and then Herod’s men . . . and then by the Roman soldiers, giving His+ back to the smiters  and His+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.

O Holy FATHER, Thank YOU for Your Beloved SON+ Whose most noble Head bore the CROWN OF THORNS,  and which same Sacred Head was struck with a reed, His+ Face with hands and fists.

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