The Word of God tells us that thorns were the result of a cursed earth. From the time Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden and told they could not enter in again, the ground produced thorns because it was cursed.
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.”
(Gen. 3:17-18)For indeed, they are gone because of destruction. Egypt shall gather them up; memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their valuables of silver; thorns shall be in their tents.
(Hos. 9:6)
Jesus came to release us from the curse of the law. The curse of the law included every curse known to man. Let me show you what I mean. In Mark 15 it says:
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.
And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
(Mark 15:15-20)
In John 19:5, there is another line added to this story. “Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man!'”
Since all scripture is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16), I propose to you that the crown of thorns, too, was a foreshadow. Nothing happened to Jesus accidentally. When Jesus was put into the purple robe, even though the soldiers placed it on him mockingly, it represented His divine kingship.
While Jesus was taking a beating for us, He was removing the curse of sickness and disease. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “…by whose stripes you were healed.” It was all done through the blood. It’s because of His blood we have healing. There would be no healing without Jesus’ blood. Jesus became our substitute. When the soldiers drove the nails through His flesh, He shed His precious blood for the remission of our sins.
I propose that when the thorns were pressed into His head, the blood of Jesus touching those thorns broke the curse of poverty for us. The lush conditions of Eden were restored.
When Jesus came back to restore things to the condition before the fall, He set it up so we could live in the fullness that was intended for God’s children. He did more than give us everlasting life. He did more than just take away our sickness and disease.
He became poor, so we could be rich. He redeemed us from the curse of the ground so we can live in an abundant harvest. It was paid for by Jesus’ blood. Hebrews 6:7-8 refers to the thorns of the curse mentioned in Genesis 3.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
(Hebrews 6:7-8)
If they hadn’t put the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, His blood wouldn’t have touched the thorns and broken the curse. But they did! And we’ve been set free indeed!
The Bible tells us that if the princes of this earth had known what was going to happen when they crucified Jesus, they would never have done it. “Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8).
If they had known what putting a crown of thorns on His head and mocking Him, as a king would do, they wouldn’t have done it. Ezekiel 33 says:
Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: “When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.”
(Ezekiel 33:2-4)
If we believe Jesus is our substitute, and we heed the Word of God, then our blood will not be on our head because Jesus has already taken blood on His head for us.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.