seems the greatest proof is, that the leaves most resemble those of ivy, as they are of a very deep green. Perhaps the enemies of Christ would choose a plant like that witli which Emperors and Generals used to be crowned, that there might be calumny even in the punishment." How painful and irritating such a crown of thorns would be, sticking into the forehead or head of one whose hands were bound, we can easily imagine.
Here, as in every step of Christ's passion, we see His com- plete and perfect substitution for sinners. He, the innocent sin-bearer, wore the crown of thorns, that we, the guilty, might wear a crown of glory. Vast is the contrast which there will be between the crown of glory that Christ will wear at His second advent, and the crown of thorns which He wore at His first coming.
Lightfoot remarks that " it was a most unquestionable token that Christ's kingdom was not of this world, when He was crowned only with thorns and briars, which are the curse of the earth." It was, moreover, a striking symbol of the conse- quences of the fall being laid on the head of our divine Substi- tute. In Leviticus it is written that Aaron shall lay his hands " upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the Children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat." (Lev. xvi. 21.)
History says that in the Crusades, when Godfrey of Bouillon, the Christian General, was made King of Jerusalem, he refused to be crowned with a golden crown, — saying that " it did not become him to wear a crown of gold, in the city where his Sa- viour had worn a crown of thorns."
Rollock observes, " Ye shall find these soldiers even worse inclined than Pilate was. This falls out : if the master com- mand them to do one evil deed, often the servants will do two."
When John Huss, the martyr, was brought forth to be burn- ed, they put a paper over his head, on which were pictured three devils, and the title " heresiarch." When he saw it, he said, " My Lord Jesus Christ, for my sake, did wear a crown of thorns : why should not I, therefore, for His sake, wear this ig- nominious crown ? "
[And tJiey put...purple rohe.] This again was done as a mark of contempt and derision. A mock royal robe was thrown over our Lord's shoulders, in order to show how ridiculous and con- temptible was the idea of His kingdom. The color, " purple," was doubtless meant to be a derisive imitation of the well- known imperial purple, the color worn by Emperors and Kings. Some have thought that this robe was only an old soldier's cape, such as a guard-house would easily furnish. Some, with more show of probability, have thought that this " robe " must be the " gorgeous robe " which Herod put on our Lord men-