What is a "crown of thorns"?

The expression "crown of thorns" means the suffering that has been endured. She recalls that more than two thousand years ago the Savior of the World Jesus Christ the Roman soldiers wore a wreath on his head. He was gossiped from prickly thorns and caused great pain. The crown of thorns in ancient times was worn by convicted criminals unlike the winners whose heads were crowned with wreaths from the laurel.

The thorns wreath from evangelical history is in some way a mystery. After all, the Romans of the time of Jesus Christ honored their laws. In accordance with the Roman law, they should not be mocked in this way over a person sentenced to death on the cross. In fact, the soldiers had to refrain from ridiculing the convict and his religious beliefs. What is the matter and is not the evangelical episode an allegory? So it was possible to think, if not for the fact that the crown of thorns actually existed.

Some of the answers were obtained thanks to archaeological findings. During the excavation they found the residence of the procurator of Judea. Together with her, a garrison prison was found, as well as the so-called Lifostrolton - a stone platform on which Jesus Christ was at the time of Pilate's trial. The stone plates of Lifostroton have retained some images, which can be seen in our days.

These are symbols that supposedly served Roman soldiers as dice. The person who won the competition deserved a kind of "honor". He received the right to dress in the likeness of royal porphyry, as well as put on his head a toy crown and handed a "scepter" (wooden stick). Also, the "King of the Game" took pride in honors. In particular, he was worshiped and even satisfied with any of his whims.

The soldiers were aware that Jesus was accused of allegedly claiming the throne of Judea. It is possible that, having fulfilled the order of the procurator regarding the scourging of the prisoner, the soldiers cruelly decided to play with the convict. In the Gospels it is written that for such a "representation" the soldiers collected "the entire regiment." Having dressed the suffering Redeemer in purple, on his head the Roman soldiers hoisted a crown of thorns, and in hand gave a stick. As we know, they further began to give Him imaginary honors and, falling before Him on their knees, exclaim: "Rejoice, King of the Jews!".

It can also be assumed (in terms of history) why Pontius Pilate allowed such treatment with the already condemned Savior. After all, at first the procurator of Judea was hesitant about Christ and even had an intention to let him go. But the furious crowd raised a strong noise. There were shouts addressed to Pilate, alluding to his infidelity to Caesar. It is not hard to guess that the procurator, fearing the wrath of the ruler of the Roman Empire, decided to propitiate the crowd and allowed the soldiers excessive mockery of Christ.

And how can the events described be interpreted in the Light of Holy Scripture - the Bible? In the book of the prophet Isaiah it is said that the Savior will take upon himself the sins of all people. In fact, the sacrificed Christ liberates believers from the sinful nature that they inherited from Adam.

But if we go back to the biblical events described in the Book of Genesis, we can learn that when the Earth was cursed, the Lord told Adam that she would no longer give man strength and begin to produce thorns. After in the books of almost all the biblical prophets, the Psalms of David and other sections of the Bible, one can read that one day the Savior of the World will appear, which will free mankind from punishments and curses, diseases and slavery of sin.

It is said in the 53 chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah that the Lord placed the sins of all the believers on Christ, as well as their illnesses and infirmities. Since the Supreme Creator is just and fulfills the divine purpose to the end, then the Cross did not only the Atonement of man. The crown of thorns was planted on the head of the Son of God. Thus, the earth was redeemed from the curse.

Currently, the relic is in the vestry of the Notre Dame Cathedral and is one of the main shrines of France.