We Grew the Thorns that Crowned our Saviors’ Head

Traveling down the cool shallow stream, there came a decision that had to made. The stream’s character became much more opposing with its banks lifting high above our heads and the water digging deeps and dark. The depth of the water was unknown but the alternate route was through a thorn briar that would surely inflict pain. Thorns and farmers have been toiling since the fall of man. Jesus mentions the unlikelihood or certainty of a man yielding crops in the midst of thorns. Mark 4:7. The thorn has a biological purpose of protecting the associated plant from herbivores while its true purpose perhaps is to disrupt the ease of cultivating food. We the sinner are responsible for the presence of this troubled variety of botany.

[8] And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man who he had formed. [9] And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9.

Prior to the fall of Adam & Eve in Genesis chapter 3, the ground was void of sorrow bearing plants or at least in the garden. (cf verse 9). But by the disobedience of one and therefore all, this was not the case any longer. Romans 5:19.

[17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field: [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3: 17-19

No longer would cultivating food be easy but now it would take great effort. Aching hands blistered from swinging a machete would be the way through. Thorns while a physical curse of the ground are also a symbol of sinful ways. “Thorns and snares are in the way of the forward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.” Proverbs 22:5. Jesus, our savior, not only bore our shortcomings on this cross but endured the pain of a crown that was made from the fruit of our disobedience. John 19:2. We are blessed to have a savior in Jesus that was tempted as we were (Hebrew 2:18) and had to suffer the effects of a fallen environment and came out victorious. The way of sin like the stream bank is full of fruitless pain while the way through the water with Christ and only Christ is possible.

Josh Upham