The Rose of Sharon

What a blessing to hear Savior, the story of God's passion for His people last Friday at Gateway Church. It was a wonderful event that had beautiful worship music with a full choir and orchestra. There were musical guest of Twila Paris, Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, and Wayne Watson. 

They sang a song titled "Rose of Sharon", and it really made me want to research about what the Rose of Sharon means. All I do know is that I love the smell of the essential oil that I have. My son actually asked me "Who is Sharon". I found out the rose of Sharon is usually a thornless rose, and that got me thinking about the crown of thorns. I then began to research why they used the crown of thorns. What does the crown of thorns represent in Christ death? I thought I would share a few of my findings that seemed appropriate as we get ready to commemorate Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday.

First, the Rose of Sharon is a name often used in association with Christ. It is a rose that is found in the plains of Sharon in the Holy Land. It is found in the Song of Solomon, and it is supposed to represent perfect love and beauty. This does remind me of the perfect love of Christ on the cross for us, and the beauty of His ultimate sacrifice. It is roses that a man often gives to a woman to show his love, and is seen as a symbol of love. Christ is seen as the Bridegroom that is coming for His Bride, and reminds us of His passion for pursuing us to His own death. It is ironic to me that it is said to be thornless because of the crown of thorns that is associated with his sacrifice. It reminds me though of a beautiful rose like a man would give a woman whose thorns are painful to the one that sacrifices for others to enjoy it's beauty, and given in love. 

Thorns or thistles in the Bible are often associated with the fall of man. In Genesis 3:18 it says that "thorns also and thistles shall [the ground] bring forth to thee". It is the fall that set into motion the pain and suffering of Christ in God's beautiful redemption plan. How often is it in our own pain that we can see how He turns beauty into ashes. It is the law that shows us sin that must be punished, and it is our tutor to bring us to Christ. It is in our pain that we often fall to the foot of the cross. It is in our pain that reminds us that we are only foreigners passing through to our HOME, and finally to our true resting place in Christ for all eternity. If we are all honest with ourselves we would understand that we would be quite content here on Earth if it weren't for tears, sorrow, pain, and suffering. It is the thorns and thistles that causes us to truly appreciate the beauty of the rose. It is only in our pain that we can truly appreciate the beauty of God's love for us. The beauty is that He will one day wipe away all our tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, and most of all no more sin that physically separates us from Him. Hallelujah!! 

Thorns and thistles was also seen in the story where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, and as he was raising the knife to sacrifice his son on the alter the angel of the Lord said...

Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Genesis 22:12-13

This is a picture of the substitutionary sacrifice that Jesus became for us. The rams horns were caught in the thicket like a crown, and such a representation of the crown of thorns that would be placed on Christ head. The crown of thorns was placed on His head as a sign to mock Jesus as King, but little did they know that this was a representation of the fall of man. He came as the sacrifice for the sin of all man, to restore us to the beauty of His creation. 

There are many things about the Story of Easter that gets me emotional, but one thing that gets me every time is any song I hear that includes how He tore the veil. Anyone who has studied the Tabernacle, and the Holy of Holies knows how amazing it is that we can now enter into the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the temple in Jerusalem by a heavy curtain or veil. The Holy of Holies was the earthly dwelling place of God's presence, and the veil represented that we were separated from God. No one went into the Holy of Holies except for the High Priest once a year in order to make atonement for all of Israel's sin. As soon as Christ yielded up His Spirit then the veil was torn. 

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Matthew 27:51

I often feel for those who think they still have to go to others like a Priest to confess sin, as we now have entry into the Holy of Holies through Christ. We are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the earthly dwelling place of God's presence. We can pray to God anytime and anywhere. He says if we confess our sins that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9) We are now found worthy through Christ to enter the most Holy of Holies, and one day we will be with Him face to face. Do we still only visit the Holy of Holies once a year on Easter when we seek Him. The veil is torn, and when we confess Christ as our Savior then we are no longer separated from God. Why would we not regularly enter into His Holy presence through prayer? What an amazing privilege. If we are worthy to go before the Holy of Holies then who on this Earth can tell us we are unworthy! 

This good Friday I will seek to remember that what was painful for Christ represents the GOOD news for us, and the beauty of His sacrifice. That He sacrificed everything so that we would no longer be separated from Him. I will seek to remember this resurrection day that it is through the pain of the crown of thorns that we can know the beauty of the "Rose of Sharon".

Here's a little sampling of some singing we heard before the Savior concert. Wayne Watson singing "It Was the Blood of Jesus", and Larnelle Harris giving us a little taste of "Amen".