The Savior's Many Crowns

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"On his head were MANY CROWNS." Revelation 19:12

Ah, well you know what head this was, and you have not forgotten its marvelous history. A head which once in infancy reclined upon the bosom of a woman! A head which was meekly bowed in obedience to a carpenter! A head which became in after years a fountain of water, and a reservoir of tears. A head which "sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground!" A head which was spit upon, whose hair was plucked: A head which at the last in the grim agony of death, crowned with thorns, gave utterance to the terrible death-shriek — lama sabachthani! A head which afterwards slept in the grave; and — glory be unto him that lives and was dead, but is alive for evermore — a head which afterwards rose again from the tomb, and looked with radiant eyes of love upon the holy women waiting at the sepulcher.

This is the head whereof John speaks in the words of the text. Who would have thought that a head, the visage of which was more marred than that of any other man — a head which suffered more from the tempests of heaven and of earth than ever mortal brow before, should now be surrounded with these many diadems, these star-bestudded crowns!

My brethren, it needs John himself to expound this glorious vision to you. Alas my eye has not yet seen the heavenly glory, nor has my ear heard the celestial song, I am therefore but as a little child among topless mountains, overawed with grandeur, and speechless with awe. Pray for me that I may utter a few words which the Holy Spirit may comfortably apply to your souls, for if he help me not, I am helpless indeed. With his divine aid, I dare to look upon the glorious diadems of our Lord and King.

The crowns upon the head of Christ are of three sorts. First, there are the crowns of dominion many of which are on his head. Next, there are the crowns of victory, which he has won in many a terrible battle. Then there are the crowns of thanksgiving with which his church and all his people have delighted to crown his wondrous head.

I. First, then, let every believing eye look through the thick darkness and behold Jesus us he sits this day upon the throne of his Father, and let every heart rejoice while it sees the many CROWNS OF DOMINION upon his head.

First, and foremost, there sparkles about his brow the everlasting diadem of the King of HEAVEN. His are the angels. The cherubim and seraphim continually bound forth his praise. At his behest the mightiest spirit delights to fly, and carry his commands to the most distant world. He has but to speak, and it is done. Cheerfully is he obeyed, and majestically does he reign- his high courts are thronged with holy spirits, who live upon his smile, who drink light from his eyes, who borrow glory from his majesty. There is no spirit in heaven so pure that it does not bow before him, no angel so bright that it does not veil its face with its wings, when it draws near to him.

Yes, moreover, the many redeemed spirits delight to bow before him, day without night they circle his throne, singing — "Worthy is he that was slain and has redeemed us from our sins by his blood, honor, and glory, and majesty, and power, and dominion, and might, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." To be King of heaven were surely enough! The ancients were accustomed to divide heaven, and earth, and hell, into divers monarchies, and allot each of them to distinct kings; and surely heaven were an empire large enough even for an infinite Spirit. Christ is Lord of all heaven's boundless plains. He laid the precious stones upon which was built that city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God; he is the light of that city, he is the joy of its inhabitants, and it is their loving life evermore to pay him honor.

Side by side with this bright crown behold another. It is the iron crown of HELL, for Christ reigns there supreme. Not only in the dazzling brightness of heaven, but in the black impenetrable darkness of hell is his omnipotence felt, and his sovereignty acknowledged. The chains which bind damned spirits are the chains of his strength! The fires which burn are the fires of his vengeance! The burning rays that scorch through their eyeballs, and melt their very heart, are flashed from his vindictive eye!

There is no power in hell besides his. The very devils know his might. He chains the great dragon. If God gives him a temporary liberty, yet is the chain in his hand, and he can draw him back lest he go beyond his limit. Hell trembles at him. The very howlings of lost spirits are but deep bass notes of his praise. While in heaven the glorious notes shout forth his goodness; in hell the deep growlings resound his justice, and his certain victory over an his foes. Thus his empire is higher than the highest heaven, and deeper than the lowest hell.

This EARTH also is a province of his wide domains. Though small the empire compared with others, yet from this earthly world has he perhaps derived more glory than from any other part of his dominions. He reigns on earth.

On his head is the crown of CREATION, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." His voice said, "Let there be light," and there was light. It was his strength that piled the mountains, and his wisdom balances the clouds. He is Creator. If you lift your eye to the upper spheres, and behold yon starry worlds — he made them. They are not self-created. He struck them off like sparks from the anvil of his omnipotence; and there they glitter, upheld and supported by his might. He made the earth and all men that are upon it, the cattle an a thousand hills, and the birds that make glad the air. The sea is his, and he made it also. Leviathan he has formed, and though that monster makes the deep to be hoary, yet is he but a creature of God's power.

Together with this crown of creation there is yet another — the crown of PROVIDENCE, for he made all things by the word of his power. Everything would cease to be, if it were not for the continual out-going of his strength. The earth must die, the sun must grow dim with age, and nature sink in years, if Christ supplied it not with his perpetual strength. He sends the howling blasts of winter; he, anon, restrains them and breathes the breath of spring; he ripens the fruits of summer, and he makes glad the autumn with his harvest. All things know his will. The heart of the great universe beats by his power; the very sea derives its tide from him. Let him once withdraw his hands, and the pillars of earth must tremble; the stars must fall like fig leaves from the tree, and all things must be quenched in the blackness of annihilation. On his head is the crown of providence.

And next to this there glitters also the thrice-glorious crown of GRACE. He is the King of grace: he gives, or he withholds. The river of God's mercy flows from underneath his throne; he sits as Sovereign in the dispensing of mercy. He has the key of heaven. He opens, and no man shuts. He shuts, and no man opens. He calls, and the stubborn heart obeys. He wills, and the rebellious spirit bends its knee. For he is Master of men, and when he wills to bless, none can refuse the benediction. He reigns in his church amidst willing spirits; and he reigns for his church over all the nations of the world, that he may gather unto himself a people that no man can number who shall bow before the scepter of his love.

I pause here, overcome by the majesty of the subject, and instead of attempting to describe that brow, and those glittering crowns, I shall act the part of a seraph, and bow before that well-crowned head, and cry, "Holy, holy, holy, are you Lord God of hosts! The keys of heaven, and death, and hell, hang on your belt; you are supreme, and unto you be glory for ever and ever!"

And now, my brothers, what say you to this? Do not sundry thoughts at once stir in your hearts? Methinks I hear one say, "If this is so, if Christ has these many crowns of dominion, how vain it is for me to rebel against him." My hearers, it may be, some of you are striving against Christ. Like Saul of Tarsus, you have become "exceeding mad" against him. Your wife frequents the house of God, and you forbid her. You persecute your child because she follows Jesus. You hate the very name of Christ; you curse his servants; you despise his Word. You would if you could, spit upon his ministers; and, perhaps, you would like to burn his people.

Know this — that you have undertaken a battle in which you are certain of defeat. Who ever strove against him and prospered? Go O man and do battle against the lightning, and hold the thunder-bolt in your hand! Go and restrain the sea, and hush the billows, and hold the winds in the hollow of your hand! And when you have accomplished this, then you may lift your puny hand against the King of kings. For he that was crucified is your Master, and though you oppose him you shall not succeed. In your utmost malice you shall be defeated, and the vehemence of your wrath shall but return upon your own head.

Methinks I see this day the multitudes of Christ's enemies. They stand up; they take counsel together — "Let us break his bands in sunder; let us cast away his cords from us." Do you hear, O you rebels, yonder deep-sounding laugh? Out of the thick darkness of his tabernacle, Jehovah laughs at you. He has you in derision. He says "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." Come on, you enemies of Christ, and be dashed in pieces. Come on in your most vehement force, and fall like the waves- that are broken against the immovable rock. He rules and he will rule! And you one day shall be made to feel his power. For "At the name of Jesus every knee must bow, of things in heaven and things on earth, and things under the earth."

Another thought, right full of comfort springs up to my mind. Believer, look to Christ's thrice-crowned head this day and be comforted. Is providence against you? Correct your speech- it is you that have erred- God has not become your enemy. Providence is not against you, for Jesus is its King — he weighs its trials and counts its storms. Your enemies may strive, but they shall not prevail against you — he shall smite them upon the cheek-bone.

Are you passing through the fire? The fire is Christ's dominion. Are you going through the floods? They shall not drown you; for even the floods obey the voice of the Omnipotent Messiah. Wherever you are called, you can not go where Jesus' love does not reign. Commit yourself into his hands. However dark your circumstance, he can make your pathway clear. Though night surround you, he shall surely bring the day. Only trust you in him; leave your concerns- both little and great- in his Almighty hands, and you shall yet see how kind his heart is, how strong his hand is to bring you out and glorify you.

Repose your confidence in him who is the King of kings. Come bring your burdens each one of you to his feet, and take a song away. If your hearts are heavy bring them here — the golden scepter can lighten them. If your griefs be many, tell them into his ear — his loving eyes can scatter them, and through the thick darkness shall there be a bright light shining, and you shall see his face and know that all is well.

I am sure there is no more delightful doctrine to a Christian, than that of Christ's absolute sovereignty. I am glad there is no such thing as chance, that nothing is left to itself, but that Christ everywhere has sway. If I thought that there was a devil in hell that Christ did not govern, I should be afraid that devil would destroy me, If I thought there was a circumstance on earth, which Christ did not over-rule, I should fear that circumstance would ruin me. No! if there were an angel in heaven that was not one of Jehovah's subjects, I should tremble even at him. But since Christ is King of kings, and I am his poor brother, one whom he loves, I give all my cares to him, for he cares for me — and leaning on his breast, my soul has full repose, confidence, and security.

II. And now, in the second place, Christ has many CROWN'S OF VICTORY. The first diadems which I have mentioned are his by right. He is God's only begotten and well-beloved Son, and hence he inherits unlimited dominions. But viewed as the Son of Man, CONQUEST has made him great, and his own right hand and his holy arm have won for him the triumph.

In the first place, Christ has a crown which I pray that every one of you may wear. He has a crown of victory over the WORLD. For thus says he himself, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Did you ever think of what a stern battle that was which Christ had to fight with the world? The world first said, "I will extinguish him, he shall not be known;" and it threw on Christ heaps of 'poverty' that there he might be smothered. But he shone in his poverty, and the seamless coat shone with greater light than the robe of the rabbi.

Then the world attacked him with its 'threatenings'. Sometimes they dragged him to the brow of a hill to cast him down headlong; at another time they took up stones to stone him. But he who was not to be hidden by poverty, was not to be quenched by threatening.

And then the world tried its 'blandishments'. It came with a fair face and presented to him a crown. They would have taken Christ and would have made him a king; but he who cared nothing for their frowns was regardless of their smiles. He put away the crown from him; he came not to be a king but to suffer and to die. "My kingdom is not of this world," said he, "else would my servants fight."

Have you never thought how through thirty years the world tempted Christ? That temptation of the devil in the wilderness was not the only one which he had to endure. Trials of every shape and size surrounded him, the world emptied its quiver, and shot all its arrows against the breast of the spotless Redeemer; but all holy, all unharmed was he. Still separate from sinners, he walked among them without defilement; feasted among them, and yet did not sanction their gluttony; drank with them, and yet was not a drunkard. He acted as they acted in all innocent things, and was the world's man, and yet not a man of the world. He was in the world, but he was not of it; separate, and yet one of themselves; united to our race by closest ties, and yet evermore separate and distinguished from all mankind.

I wish, my brethren, that we could imitate Christ in our battle with the world. But alas, the world oftentimes gets the upper hand of us. Sometimes we yield to its smiles, and often do we tremble before its frowns. Have hope and courage, believer — be like your Master, be the world's foe and overcome it — yield not, allow it never to entrap your watchful feet. Stand upright amid all its pressure, and be not moved by all its enchantments. Christ did this, and therefore around his head is that right royal crown of victory — the trophy of triumph over the entire forces of the world.

Furthermore, the next crown he wears is the crown by which he has overcome SIN. Sin has been more than a match for creatures of every kind. Sin fought the angels- and a third part of the stars of heaven fell. Sin defied the perfect Adam and soon overcame him, for even at the first blow he fell. Sin had a stern contest with Jesus our Lord, but in him it found its master.

Sin came with all its temptations, but Christ resisted and overcame. It came with its horror and with its curse — Christ suffered, Christ endured, and so destroyed its power. He took the poisoned darts of the curse into his own heart, and there quenched its poison fires by shedding his own blood. By suffering, Christ has become master over sin. The dragon's neck is now beneath his feet. There is not a temptation which he has not known and therefore not a sin which he has not overcome. He has cast down every shape and form of evil, and now for ever stands he more than a conqueror through his glorious sufferings. Oh, my brethren, how bright that crown which he deserves, who has for ever put away our sin by the sacrifice of himself. My soul enraptured restrains my voice, and once again I bow before his throne and worship, in spirit, My bleeding Ransomer, my suffering Savior.

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