Page 14 - Holyland Magazing - Catholic Edition 2016
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A Crown
of Thorns
for a King
Looking for meaning and deeper significance
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By Steve Carpenter
Roman soldiers, at the time of Christ, When they had twisted a crown of thorns, or ‘thorns’ mentioned in Judges 9:14–15,
were not known for their kindness. they put it on His head, and a reed in His and the ‘crown of thorns’ referenced in both
Historians of first-century life in Israel right hand. And they bowed the knee before Matthew 27:27–29 and John 19:5. Based on
confirm that Rome’s military presence Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of local traditions and ancient sources, today,
and personnel had a well-deserved the Jews! Then they spat on Him, and took these references are generally accepted to
reputation for dominance, intimidation and the reed and struck Him on the head. And refer to the Ziziphus Spina-Christi.
extreme brutality. The troops tasked with when they had mocked Him, they took the
crucifixion seemed to have had a particular robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, The Ziziphus Spina-Christi, also known
knack for mockery and cruelty, as evidenced and led Him away to be crucified" (Matthew as the Christ's Thorn Jujube, is a type of
in the execution of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 27:27-31). evergreen tree indigenous to northern and
tropical Africa and southern and Western
Consider Matthew’s account of this sadistic Much has been made of the origin of the plant Asia. It grows in Israel in valleys up to an
scene. “Then the soldiers of the governor or tree from which Jesus’ crown of thorns elevation of 500m. Its spines are small and
took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered was made. Botanists, who are experts in sharp, its branches soft, round and pliable,
the whole garrison around Him. And they the Bible, are continually engaged in a great and the leaves look like ivy, with a dark, shiny
stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. debate about what constitutes the ‘bramble’ green color, making them very adaptable for
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