The Power of the Suffering King

Several years ago, there was a story that circulated about a man who inherited a ring from his grandfather.

It wasn’t flashy.

It wasn’t impressive.

In fact, when he first looked at it, he thought it was costume jewelry.

So, he threw it in a drawer.

Years later, he was going through some old belongings and found it again. This time, he decided to take it to a jeweler—just out of curiosity.

The jeweler looked at it… paused… and said:
“Do you know what this is?”

He said, “Not really—just something my grandfather left me.”

The jeweler said, “This isn’t costume jewelry. This is a rare diamond… it’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

And in that moment, everything changed.

What he thought was worthless…

was actually incredibly valuable.

What he treated casually…was something of great significance.

Church, I wonder how often we do the same thing with the cross.

We’ve seen it so many times…
we’ve heard the story so many times…
that we can miss what is really happening.
Because when you look at the cross…

it doesn’t look like power.

• It looks like weakness.
• It looks like defeat.
• It looks like humiliation.

But what if what looks like defeat…is actually the greatest victory the world has ever known?

That’s what John 19 shows us.

Because in this passage…we don’t just see a cross. We see a coronation.

Let’s read it together.

John 19:1–3 (ESV)
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Today, we have a very simple outline. It’s one that I believe will greatly encourage you.

The Cross and the Crown

• The Crown He Wore
• The Crown He Wears
• The Crowns He Gives

I. THE CROWN HE WORE — THE SUFFERING KING

John 19:2
2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

The Romans ruled with an iron fist. If you recall, after Jesus is born, the Magi came from the East and they asked Herod, “Where is he who is born king of the Jews?”

Remember, after Herod learned that he had been deceived, he sent soldiers to Bethlehem and had all boys, 2 years and under executed. There was no scenario that Herod was going to let a king rise from the Jews.

In this context, we see that the religious leaders of Israel speak to that insecurity in Pilate and bring a charge against Jesus that he is setting himself up as a king.

As Pilate interacts with Jesus, we see that he says, “I find no guilt in him.”

Look at John 18:38b-40.

John 18:38b-40
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Now, Barabbas was a thief. Some of your notes might indicate that Barabbas was an insurrectionist. Clearly, he is a rebel of some sort.

But notice two things:

• Pilate declares, “I find no guilt in him (Jesus).”
• Barabbas – His name means, Son of the Father.

Jesus is the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father in human form. It says at the beginning of John’s Gospel, “He took on flesh and dwelt among us.” And Pilate declares that he is innocent.

But they cry out for Barabbas. Barabbas was a troublemaker, whether that be as a thief or an insurrectionist, the goal with a guy like him is to contain him, quiet him, and imprison him. But he too is the son of the father.

As the people cry for the thief and insurrectionist to be released, and cry for the crucifixion of Jesus, Pilate makes a strategic move.

He decides he will have Jesus flogged or beaten, and then he will parade him around like a king. That should work. That should send the message that needs sending.

So, verse 1 indicates that they “flogged” Jesus. Let’s look at WHAT “FLOGGING” MEANT IN THE ROMAN WORLD

The Romans had different levels of beating, but what Jesus endured here is most likely severe scourging—the kind typically given before crucifixion.

The Instrument: The Flagrum

• A short whip
• Multiple leather strands
• Embedded with:
  • bone fragments
  • metal pieces
  • sometimes hooks

This was not just meant to hurt—it was meant to tear.

Now, WHAT HAPPENED DURING SCOURGING?

The victim would be:

• Stripped of clothing
• Tied to a post or stretched over a frame
• Beaten repeatedly across the back and sides

Each strike:

• Dug into the skin
• Then tore flesh as it was pulled back

Ancient sources describe:

• Skin being shredded
• Muscle exposed
• In extreme cases, even bone visible

Eusebius (describing Roman scourging):
“The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.”

WHY THE ROMANS DID THIS
This wasn’t random cruelty—it had purpose:
1. To Weaken the Victim

• Many died from scourging alone
• It ensured the crucifixion would be fatal

2. To Humiliate

• Public stripping
• Public beating
• Total degradation

3. To Terrorize Others

• A warning: “This is what happens if you oppose Rome”

Isaiah 53:5 says…
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

The Hebrew word for “wounds” (or “stripes”) directly corresponds to this kind of beating.
This is not symbolic language. It is describing real physical suffering.

Now, as we get to verse 2 of John 19, notice after the beating, what these Romans Soldiers do.

John 19:2
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.
 
Church, don’t rush past that.

They twisted together a crown.


Many believe the crown of thorns was like a wreath.

Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, a scholar on many of the relics of the Christian faith, especially, the Shroud of Turin, believed the crown of thorns to be more like a helmet that would encompass the entire head.

He says,
“When these thorns were dried out, they became like sharp nails.”

Imagine the suffering inflicted upon Jesus by these Roman Soldiers.

And notice all the material they had on hand:

• They had the thorns…
• They had the purple robe…

Could it be that the son of the father, who was trying to lead an insurrection, was the one who was to be treated this way?
 
Could it be that these items were planned for Barabbas?

These soldiers are staging something here:

• This is not random violence.
• This is a mock coronation ceremony.
• They are saying:

“You think you’re a king?
Let us show you what kind of king you are.”

They put:

• a robe on His back
• a crown on His head
• and Matthew tells us—
  they placed a reed in His hand

Matthew 27:29–30
29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.

That reed is not accidental. It is a mock scepter.

All throughout the Old Testament, the scepter represents kingship.

Genesis 49:10
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah…”

There was a promise that a King would come.

A ruler.
One with authority.
One who would reign.

Psalm 45:6
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

This king would rule…but not like with just any power—righteous power.

And when the King finally comes…
they put a reed in His hand.

A weak stick.
A prop.
A joke.
And then…
they take that reed…
and they strike Him with it. Notice the full scene again.

Matthew 27:27-30
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Notice it says, “They took the reed and struck him on the head.” – which means every blow drives the thorns deeper.

So now the crown wounds Him…
and the scepter wounds Him.
The very symbols of kingship…
become instruments of suffering.

And here’s what you have to understand:
This is not just physical pain. This is layered suffering.

• Physical pain
• Emotional humiliation
• Spiritual weight

And when they kneel before Him…it is not in worship…but in mockery.

They spit on Him. They laugh at Him.

This is a parody of coronation.

And yet…

even deeper than that…something else is happening.

Genesis 3:17–18
17 And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.

The Thorns are not random. Thorns are the result of the curse.

They are a symbol of sin entering the world.

And now—the curse that was spoken over creation…is placed on His head.

He is not just suffering. He is bearing the curse.

Galatians 3:13
“Christ redeemed us from the curse… by becoming a curse for us…”
Those aren’t just thorns. Those are our thorns.

• Our sin.
• Our shame.
• Our rebellion.
• Placed on Him.

Isaiah 53:4
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

So, when you see the crown…don’t just see suffering. See substitution.

He wore:
your sin…your shame…your curse…
So that you could receive:
His righteousness…His acceptance…His life.

And here’s the good news…
The crown He wore then…is not the crown He wears now.

The Cross and the Crown

• The Crown He Wore
• The Crown He Wears
• The Crowns He Gives

II. THE CROWN HE WEARS — THE REIGNING KING

Because if you stop at the cross…you will misunderstand Jesus.

The cross is not the end of the story. It is the turning point of the story.

Philippians 2:8–11
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Don’t miss that word:
Therefore – what’s that therefore, there for?

• Because He humbled Himself…
• God exalted Him.
• Because He wore the crown of thorns…
• He now wears the crown of glory.

And Scripture says:
God gave Him the name above every name.

The One they mocked as “King of the Jews”…is revealed as:
King of kings and Lord of lords.
And one day—every knee will bow…Not in mockery…but in worship.

Hebrews 2:9
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

“For a little while…” He wore thorns.

But now—He is crowned with glory and honor.

And then Revelation pulls back the curtain…and shows us what He looks like now.

Revelation 19:11-12
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
 
Notice something with me. Jesus is not just wearing one crown…it’s many crowns.

I showed you this image I had Ai make for my Christmas Eve Message. It is taken from the description in Revelation 19.




Q: Some ask, “Why does he have many crowns?”
A: And the answer is simple. He has many crowns because every authority belongs to Him.

And then—this is the contrast—Keep Reading in Revelation 19.

Revelation 19:13-15
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Remember in Matthew -- they gave Him a reed.

But He rules with a rod of iron – This is his Unbreakable authority and Unshakable rule.

Here is what will be true when He comes again:
The reed they mocked Him with…will be replaced by a rod no one can resist.

Church—hear this clearly: Jesus is not waiting to become King. He is King right now.

He is King:

• Over your life.
• Over your circumstances.
• Over your future.

The One who wore thorns…now reigns in glory.

And now—this is where it becomes personal.

Because the story doesn’t stop with the crown He wore…or the crown He wears…there are also Crowns he Gives.

The Cross and the Crown

• The Crown He Wore
• The Crown He Wears
• The Crowns He Gives

III. THE CROWNS HE GIVES — THE GRACIOUS KING

At the cross…there is a great exchange.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Do you see the exchange?

Jesus takes your place…so that you can receive His.

Friends, Our Lord Jesus wore a crown of thorns…so that one day…you could wear a crown of glory.

Quote: John Calvin--
“Christ was dishonored with a crown of thorns, that we might be crowned with glory.”

Now, there are Five Crowns that can be bestowed on believers.

These are crowns given to believers—not as payment, but as participation in His victory.

Five Crowns Given to Believers

• A crown of life… for those who endure
• A crown of righteousness… for those who long for Him
• A crown of glory… for those who shepherd well
• A crown of rejoicing… for those who lead others to Christ
• An imperishable crown… for those who run the race faithfully

But don’t get lost in the list. Here’s the point:
Everything you receive…comes from what He already did.

These crowns are not earned like trophies. They are not wages for performance. They are grace gifts from a generous King.

Some of you in this room…you’ve never received that gift.

You’ve tried to:

• earn your way
• fix your life
• clean yourself up

But the gospel is not:
“Try harder.”

The gospel is:
“Receive what Christ has already done.”

Jesus:

• lived the life you couldn’t live
• died the death you deserved
• rose again in victory

So that you could be forgiven…restored…and brought into relationship with God

And the invitation is simple:
Turn from your sin…and trust in Him.

Not religion.

Not performance.

Jesus… the one who took our sin and shame upon himself.
 
Right now—where you are—

You can place your faith in Christ.

You can say:
“Jesus, I trust You.
I receive what You did for me.
I surrender my life to You.”

And if that’s your prayer…

Scripture says:

• You are forgiven.
• You are saved.
• You are His.

And for those of us who are believers…this is exactly what we remember at the table. This table is for believers, those who have taken Christ as their Savior…

Because the Lord’s Supper is a reminder:

• Of the body that was broken 
• Of the blood that was shed 
• Of the crown that was worn 

Friends, when you take the bread…remember, the One who wore the crown of thorns.

When you take the cup…remember, the blood that was poured out for your redemption.

And one day…
all of this leads somewhere.

Revelation 4:10–11
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

Church—don’t miss this. The crowns He gives us…we don’t hold onto.

• We don’t build our identity on them.
• We don’t say, “Look what I’ve done.”

No—We take those crowns…and we lay them back at His feet.

Because in the end…it was never about us…It was always about Him.

“He wore the crown of thorns…He now wears the crown of glory…and one day…every crown will be laid at His feet.”



This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at our CityRise Bellaire campus. Check out the full message below!