[2026. 11. 1.] The True King Who Wore the Crown of Thorns | John 19:1-16

[2026. 11. 1.] The True King Who Wore the Crown of Thorns | John 19:1-16 

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 11. 1. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 54
본문: 요한복음 19:1-16
제목: 가시관을 쓰신 진정한 왕

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

Today, as we celebrate our church’s anniversary, we gather to worship God and remember His grace in establishing this church and faithfully leading it until now. For that reason, I would like to connect today’s message from the Gospel of John especially to the nature and mission of the church.

In our fifty-fourth study of John's Gospel, today’s passage brings us to the scene of Jesus’ suffering, where He is flogged before the court of Pilate, the Roman governor, crowned with thorns, and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus and clothed Him in a purple robe as they mocked Him. To the eyes of the world, He appeared to be nothing more than a helpless prisoner being trampled underfoot. Yet it was precisely in that place of shame and bloodshed that Jesus established "the church, which is His body," through the price of His own blood.

The church is not an institution built by human ambition or worldly power. It is a holy community purchased by the blood of the true King who wore the crown of thorns. On this anniversary Sunday, let us examine through this passage the true kingship of Jesus Christ and the nature and mission of the church that was established through the price of His blood.

 

1. The Purple Robe That Covers Shame

Pilate had Jesus flogged, and in verses 2-3 we read that the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, placed it on His head, clothed Him in a purple robe, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” while striking Him.

[Verse 2-3] The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the face. (NIV)

After being scourged, Jesus' entire body was covered with blood. The crown of thorns pierced His head, causing blood to run down His face. Upon this suffering Savior they placed a purple robe.

The phrase "purple robe" comes from the Greek expression himation porphyroun (ἱμάτιον πορφυροῦν). In ancient Roman society, purple dye was extremely difficult and expensive to produce. As a result, purple garments were reserved for emperors, royalty, and the highest-ranking nobles. Purple symbolized kingship and supreme authority.

The Roman soldiers did not clothe Jesus in this robe because they acknowledged Him as King. They did it to ridicule Him. That is why they exclaimed, “Hail, King of the Jews!” while striking Him. In effect, they were saying, “You claim to be the King of the Jews. Can you still have peace while suffering like this?” It was a cruel mockery. In those days, striking someone on the face was an especially humiliating act that denied the person's dignity and treated him as less than an equal human being, more like a slave or an animal.

Then Pilate presented Jesus to the Jewish leaders. Covered in blood, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Jesus stood before them, and Pilate declared:

[Verse 5] When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” (NIV)

The expression “Here is the man!” essentially meant, “He is just a man. Look at Him. Isn't He pitiful?”

From a human perspective, this was an act of ridicule and shame. Spiritually, however, Jesus was proclaiming in a paradoxical way that He was the true King. Through the purple robe stained with His own blood, He was covering the sin and shame of humanity.

The church, the body of Christ, is an ark of life built upon this redeeming love purchased through His blood. Souls wounded and shamed by the world enter the Lord’s church, are covered by the purple robe of the cross, and find eternal rest and salvation.

There is a well-known church in London, England, called Metropolitan Tabernacle. Founded in 1650 in one of London’s poorer districts, it became a gathering place for the poor and the marginalized. One of its most famous pastors was Charles Spurgeon, who served there from 1854 to 1892. He emphasized: “The church is not an exhibition hall for the righteous, but a hospital for sinners and an ark of grace that covers shame.”

A church purchased by the blood of Christ is a place where the shame of those rejected by the world is covered by the love of Jesus.

[Application] Is our church faithfully serving as the Lord’s "purple robe" for souls who have been wounded and shamed by the world? What shame or weakness of another person am I called to cover with grace today?

 

2. Authority Given from Above

Pilate boldly displayed worldly power, saying to Jesus:

[Verse 10] Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” (NIV)

Pilate boasted that he had the authority to crucify Jesus. How did Jesus respond?

[Verse 11] Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (NIV)

The word translated “power” or “authority” is the Greek term exousian (ἐξουσίαν), derived from exesti (ἔξεστι), meaning “it is lawful” or “it is permitted.” The term refers to authority that is not self-generated but granted and delegated from a higher source.

Where did Pilate’s authority come from? It was delegated by the Roman emperor and was therefore legitimate authority. Yet if the emperor’s authority is legitimate, it too must have been delegated from One greater than himself. Ultimately, all authority comes from God.

Where does parental authority come from? It is passed down through generations and ultimately comes from God.

Where does the authority of a president come from? Where does the authority of a prime minister come from? Ultimately, all authority is given by God.

[Rom 13:1] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (NIV)

Pilate believed that he was judging Jesus, the Head of the church, by sentencing Him to the cross. But he was mistaken. Even the suffering of the cross was under God's absolute sovereignty.

That is what the church is. The church is not a community shaken by circumstances or pressured by earthly powers. It is a community that proclaims God's absolute sovereignty (exousian, ἐξουσίαν) to the world.

From the day this church was planted until now, and into its future, may we believe that its destiny rests not in the strength of this world but solely in the hands of God.

Because of this, the church must not be a place that fears the opinions of the world. Rather, it must proclaim God's sovereignty so that the world may hear His Word.

[Application] As we serve and continue building the church, are we discouraged by practical challenges such as finances, circumstances, or people? Do we continually confess that the true Head and Owner of our church is Jesus Christ alone?

 

3. The False Confession Before the Judgment Seat

As Pilate questioned Jesus, he became convinced that although Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews, He was not leading a rebellion against Rome. Therefore Pilate tried to release Him.

However, the Jewish leaders pressured Pilate by appealing to the issue that mattered most politically.

[Verse 12] From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” (NIV)

In the end, Pilate brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat in the stone-paved area.

[Verse 13] When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). (NIV)

The name “Gabbatha” means “an elevated place.” It was where the Roman governor conducted official trials. Jesus stood before the Roman court while the governor prepared to deliver the final verdict.

At that very place, the Jewish religious leaders made a devastating confession in order to preserve their own position and privilege.

What was that confession?

[Verse 15] But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. (NIV)

These words should astonish us. Not ordinary citizens, but the highest religious leaders, the chief priests, declared, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Was Caesar truly their king? Did Israel have no king besides the Roman emperor?

When Israel demanded a human king, what did God say through the prophet Samuel?

[1 Sam 8:7] And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” (NIV)

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly declares Himself to be Israel’s King.

[Isa 43:15] I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King. (NIV)

[Isa 44:6] This is what the LORD says, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” (NIV)

Yet the Jewish leaders abandoned God, their true King, and proclaimed Caesar as king in order to protect their own interests and success.

Dear brothers and sisters, who is your king? Is Jesus truly your King? Even when acknowledging Him as King causes others to reject you or results in financial loss, is Jesus still your King?

We are members of Christ’s body, the church. In other words, our Head and our King is Jesus Christ. He is not one king among many. He is our one and only King.

The church is a community built upon the pure and sincere confession of believers who acknowledge Jesus alone as King.

Today, may all of us become holy saints who honor our true King, Jesus Christ, by offering Him the first place in our time, our resources, and our decisions.

[Application] What other "king" in my life competes with Jesus, my true King? Is our church following the world's standards of success such as size, finances, popularity, and influence, or are we following the Word of God?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.