In our modern world, we might have lost touch with the true significance of a coronation ceremony and the immense power and position of a king. The splendor, authority, and ceremonial honor of crowning a sovereign often feel like relics of a bygone era. However, understanding these concepts is crucial to grasping the profound events of Jesus Christ’s trial and crucifixion and how these truths should radically change how we live as followers of Jesus.
Before the foundations of the earth, Jesus Christ’s journey to the cross was not just a path of suffering; it was His coronation as King overall. Humanity’s separation from God necessitated a divine solution. Through His trial, mockery, and crucifixion, Jesus was crowned King, conquering death to offer salvation to all who acknowledge Him as their sovereign. Pilate’s questioning, the crown of thorns, and the inscription “King of the Jews” were not mere details but significant markers of His royal status.
For a British person, the idea of a coronation might not seem far away, especially considering you had one recently. However, this modern ceremony, filled with pomp and pageantry, starkly contrasts with ancient coronations. King Charles III’s coronation was a grand event. Yet, it highlighted the feeble nature of human power—an old man struggling under the weight of a crown symbolizes the limited authority of worldly monarchs. In contrast, let us look at Jesus’s coronation.
Read these scriptures consecutively, identify the key moments, and truly grasp the narrative of this profound event.
Pilate went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest. But now my kingdom is from another place.” Pilate said, “You are a king, then!” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth” (John 18:33-37).
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (John 19:2-3). Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd, saying, “Here is your king.” But they shouted, “Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14-15).
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, and the chief priests protested, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written” (John 19:19-22).
Only a few days before His crucifixion, Jesus sat with His disciples and said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him” (Philippians 1:29). “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:17). “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11-12).
“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12). “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).
Jesus was about to be coronated as King of Kings, and all His disciples were invited to join Him in the ceremony. These verses of dying to yourself and picking up your cross are not about being obsessed with martyrdom or ego death but “RSVP-ing” to be part of the ceremony and embracing your proper priestly position.
By conquering death, Jesus opened the way to eternal life and dubbed his followers into His Kingdom. His suffering and resurrection are the foundation of our hope, promising that He will return as the righteous judge to avenge the blood of the saints and establish His eternal Kingdom. As we await His return, we are encouraged to endure, knowing that our suffering for Christ means we, too, join in and are part of His coronation ceremony. Our trials and perseverance in faith allow us to share in His victory and kingship forever.
There are two kinds of suffering: unchosen suffering (persecution) and chosen suffering (voluntary sacrifices for Jesus). In places like the Middle East, suffering is often inflicted by others. In the West, we face chosen suffering when we sacrifice comforts for Christ, such as financial sacrifices that prevent us from going on that vacation, marital faithfulness, and moral purity. Regardless of context, we are all called to holiness and invited into the ceremony.
One of our Disciple-makers in the Middle East said, “Believers in the West have more persecution than we do. We can see our enemy, but in the West, the enemy is in your minds.” We do not even realize we are in a battle. This type of persecution produces a pursuit of comfort, which leads to fear, compromise, apathy, and a constant hunger to fill that void of validation. These are all things outside of the coronation ceremony if Jesus.
When we suffer in this lifetime for the sake of Christ, we are not just enduring pain but participating in a profound ceremony of honor. Our struggles are a part of His divine narrative, uniting us with Him in His coronation. So, take heart and endure, knowing that in your suffering, you are sharing in His glory and preparing to reign with Him for all eternity.
We do not model our lives after underground church leaders or any human example but after Jesus Himself. We are called to be imitators of Him, not man, following His example of sacrifice, love, and ultimate victory. This ceremony is about the King of kings and not our worldly kings, like King Charles, Donald Trump, or our Pastors.
Each of us has a role in Jesus’s coronation ceremony. Some roles may be more visible, but all are essential. This is the greatest privilege of our lives. Therefore, let us rejoice in our suffering and sacrifices, knowing they are preparing for us a crown that will never pass away.
Maranatha
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