Thorns.
Ouch!
Pain.
Caution.
In the way.
Humiliation.
Grace?
The first time thorns are mentioned in the Bible is when God tells Adam that because he ate of the fruit, a consequence was that he would have to “work the fields for his food (as opposed to it all being provided in the Garden).” It says, “The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way (Genesis 3:18 MSG).”
From the beginning to end, it seems that thorns, according to a Bible dictionary, represent curses (as in opposite of blessings), obstacles, as well as humiliation.
The people of God are warned by the prophet Jeremiah that unless they turned from their sinful ways and turned back to the Lord, “They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing (Jeremiah 12:13 NIV).”
Something’s gone wrong – sowing wheat and reaping thorns.
Jesus taught that when it comes to hearing and receiving God’s Word, “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants…the one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful (Matthew 13:7, 22 NIV).”
These thorns get in the way.
Then Jesus, the prince of Heaven, this very week, instead of being honored with his true crown – “…and they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him (Matthew 27:29).”
“O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down. Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown,” sings the hymn “O Sacred Head Now Wounded.”
And then there are the thorns that serve as constant reminders…
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me (2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV).”
As the season of Lent and purposefully humbling ourselves comes to a close, here in this week when we journey with Christ to His cross – it is essential for us to remember that the cross was and is necessary because this is a world full of sin and thorns. Whether we are pricked from time to time or if it is constant, the thorns of life remind us of our profound need for God’s strength, provision and grace. As Paul said, after sharing about his thorn and how he had pleaded with God three times to have it removed; the answer – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
On the surface, thorns are one of those parts of Creation that leave us wondering “Why?” Yet, we know that everything is created by God for a purpose. It is through the pain and struggle of the thorns of this world and our lives that God’s grace is made more visible, more urgent and more real. As many thorns as there may be in the world, the grace of God, the love of Jesus and the fruit of the Holy Spirit abound much more in, through, around, and in spite of, thorns.
Amen.
Discussion Questions
- What are the thorns in your life? Can they be removed or burned? Are they permanent?
- Are you able to see and use the thorns as “pointers” for God’s strength, provision and grace?
- If you feel like you are reaping thorns – what might need to change?
Living Water 