Crown of thorns

In the Garden of Eden "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). However, Satan, in the form of a serpent ("...that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan" Revelation 12:9), twisted God's words to Eve; she believed satan and ate from the tree God had told her not to eat from. Part of the subsequent curse of separation from God and ultimate death, was represented by thorns and thistles which God told Adam, mankind would now be up against (see Genesis 3:17). Thousands of years later God sent His son Jesus to restore mankind's relationship to Him. "Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). Apostle Paul succinctly wrote, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us ...(Galatians 3:13). Not only did Jesus take our curse of separation from God, when hanging on the wooden cross, the crown of thorns that was pushed cruelly and tauntingly down on Jesus's head also represents the curse given because of ignoring God's instructions. In Ancient times the victor took the crown off the King of the defeated kingdom and wore it on his head. Jesus has defeated receiving wrong words, wrong thinking and subsequent wrong action, as initiated by Adam and Eve. I am reminded today that we need never wear the metaphorical crown of thorns of guilt and shame because of our disobedience, because Jesus did it for us, willingly and uncomplainingly. Instead let us fill our minds with Godly thoughts, His promises and His instructions to us.