Matthew 27:27-31 (NLT) 27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped himand put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
Thorns:
Thorns are an ancient symbol of a curse. Genesis 3:17-18 (NIV) 17…” Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
Dysfunction
Shame
Emotional/ Mental trauma:
Galatians 3:13(NLT) But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
“Christ has broken the curse!”
Mockery:
Accusation
Humiliation
Shaming
Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV) 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Peace of Soul 1. Peace has been purchased and promised John 14:26-27 (NLT) 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
“You don’t get supernatural peace through natural means.”
2. Peace must be placed
A. By placing faith in Jesus Romans 5:1 (NLT) We have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. “To have the peace of God, you must have peace with God.”
B. By making sound decisions Romans 16:19-20 (NIV) I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
C. By renewing our mind Romans 12:2 (NIV) 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
“Worldly patterns produce worldly peace.”
Renewing our mind:
Repentance.
The Washing of the Word. (Eph 5)
Submitting our thoughts to Jesus.
Putting our past in its place.
3. Peace must be protected Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
“Peace is protected by praying and by thinking about the right things.”
4. Peace is a person “Peace has little to do with what is happening around us but more to do with who resides in us.” Ephesians 2:14 (NIV) For he himself is our peace.
