|
|
Christian Indie Radio
GetChristianMusic
Solid Walnut Music
|
|
|
|
|
|
Devotionals
|
|
Cartoons
Culture
Family
Games
Health
Homeschooling
Humor
Inspiration
Kids
Men
Ministry
Parenting
Poetry
Teens
Women
|
|
Statement of Faith
Contact Us
|
|
|
|
A Crown of Thorns
by Kristenea M. LaVelle (Kristenea's bio)
Send this page to a friend
His face reflected the sorrows of the world. His body bore the marks of iniquity and sickness. His sacrifice was the atonement required to ransom mankind from the fingers of hell. In His death we see a picture of ultimate humility, incredible self-control and a love so powerful that it bridged the gap between God and man.
As Christians we are very familiar with the image of our Savior Jesus Christ hanging on a wooden cross. We readily accept that He gave His perfect life to pay for the debt of our transgressions against the Creator of the Universe, but have we overlooked something? Have we failed to understand the significance of the crown of thorns worn upon the head of our King? Venture with me and discover how this important key applies to our happiness and freedom as children of God.
The Symbolic Meaning of Thorns
Jesus explained the symbolic meaning of thorns when He taught the people this familiar parable of the sower and the soil:
" A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown…The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:5-8, 14-15.
Jesus, by His own definition, equates the thorns in this parable with life's worries, riches and pleasures. Overlooking these prickly issues in life will cause them to flourish and eventually become powerful enough to choke out the Word of God planted in the soil of the heart. This can have a spiritually devastating effect on the life of a believer by rendering them unfruitful and inhibiting their growth as a child of God.
Again, notice that the thorns represent life's worries, riches and pleasures. This description of thorns parallels the characteristics common to the fallen nature of mankind. Therefore, indulging the sinful nature has the same effect on the Word planted in the soil of the heart. It serves to hinder the relationship between God and man causing unfruitfulness and immaturity in the life of a believer.
The Curse
The first mention of thorns in the Bible comes in the form of a curse placed upon fallen man as a direct result of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
" To Adam He said, " Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:17-19.
The symbolic importance of this passage is this: the ground represents our flesh because we were formed from the dust of the earth, and as previously stated, the thorns and thistles represent the worries, riches and pleasures of this life. Keeping that in mind, consider the spiritual significance of this curse on mankind: …cursed is the flesh because of your disobedience. You will partake of the flesh all the days of your life. It will produce worries, riches and pleasures, that will hinder your relationship with God and stunt your spiritual growth. By the sweat of your brow you will partake of the flesh until your death. [paraphrase mine]
So let's evaluate this new insight as it applies to the fallen nature of mankind. The introduction of sin into the world caused a curse to fall upon all people. It adversely effected the physical and spiritual condition of every one in the human race. A direct result of this curse was a war waged between the spirit and the flesh causing internal discomfort, distress and worries that lead to spiritual unrest. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…" Galatians 5:17 (KJV). This condition is difficult to overcome, but the thorns of this life must be subdued in order for growth and maturity to occur.
Thorny Inhabitants
Another symbolic passage about thorns teaches us the importance of recognizing the thorny inhabitants of the land and driving them out. This falls under the Old Testament Law of Possession of the Land which states:
"…the Lord said to Moses,…When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess…But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live." Numbers 33:51-53, 55.
Again, we can look at this passage in a spiritual sense as it relates to our flesh and the continuing struggle to subdue the thorns in life. The Jordan river is symbolic of the physical nature of mankind, whereas the land of Canaan was the promised land and therefore represents the spiritual self or the promise of what is to come. This passage of scripture translates to,
…when you finally decide to cross over from living by the flesh, to being lead by the Spirit of God, you must drive out the previous inhabitants of the flesh. You must destroy all idol worship and demolish everything within yourself that keeps you from humility before you can take possession of (or overcome) the flesh. If you fail to drive out these inhabitants, they will keep you from seeing the truth and they will produce worries, distress and anguish in your flesh. They will wage war against your soul and you will have trouble and unrest in your life. [paraphrase mine]
It is evident that these thorns of life will cause great spiritual distress if allowed to thrive in the flesh. It is very important to drive out these sinful tendencies and desires in order to bring the flesh under submission to the Spirit of God.
Thorns in the New Testament
The New Testament teachings of thorns mirror the pattern established in the Old Covenant Laws as described by the author of Hebrews, who explains spiritual growth and maturity using this simple parable:
" Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those who for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned." Hebrews 6:7-8
The simple application of this Word to your life is this: examine yourself and your actions. Do your actions produce suitable crops for the Lord, or do they produce thorns that can take root and nullify the Word planted in your heart and the hearts of others? Are you seeking to serve God and live by the Spirit or do you indulge the sinful nature and promote the growth of these pesky thorns in your life and the lives of those you touch? Are you so absorbed in the cares and worries of this world that you are blind to the freedom you have as a child of God? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you need to humble yourself before the Lord and repent, seeking His forgiveness for the transgressions, iniquity, doubt and disbelief that have plagued your life causing a state of spiritual unrest.
The Good News
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree'." Galatians 3:13
In Genesis, God cursed all mankind for the disobedience of one man, Adam. The good news is that God sent His only Son to become that curse for us. Through belief in Jesus Christ, we are no longer bound by that curse, but are redeemed and restored unto a right relationship with God. We have been set free by the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
A Crown of Thorns
"They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head." Matthew 27:28-29a
The curse that fell upon mankind in the garden of Eden was carried on the shoulders of our crucified Savior, and for this reason, Jesus is the only way to redemption. On His bruised and bloodied head He wore a crown of thorns, symbolic of the worries, anxieties and cares of this world. He carried them to free you from the bondage and spiritual damage caused by their presence in this life. Therefore, cling to this promise and be transformed in your mind and spirit by the Word of truth and the power of His blood. Cast off the many thorns and thistles that plague your life and throw them at the feet of your Savior. Live in the freedom He gives.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6-7
Copyright 2001, Kristenea M. LaVelle. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Kristenea M. LaVelle: I am a wife of 10 years and a homeschooling mother of five dedicated to teaching and living the truth of Jesus Christ. David and I make our home in Spokane, Washington where we can serve our family and friends with the love of Christ. It was through His direction that I began writing and found myself on a fascinating new journey in life. Now my joy is made complete by writing for Him and about Him. E-mail Kristenea |
Send this page to a friend: