Jacob and Jaden:  Mommy, why do we have to have thorns?

Me: Because Adam and Eve sinned.   And, we are sinners.

I can’t tell you how many times my oldest two have asked me that question.  It has been quite a few considering the amount of time they spend playing outside in the meadow or forest.  They have had their fair share of thorn pricks.

A little over 48 hours ago, while collecting maple seeds for our 4-H Cloverbuds meeting, I realized how true the answer I always give is.  I brushed the leaves away from the base of the maple tree in order to scoop up a few seeds to place in a baggie.  When out of nowhere a huge thorn seemed to reach up and grab my right pointer finger.  Ouch!  A thorn!  A thorn!  I whined to my 5 year old as she stood watching me.  I brought my finger up to assess the damage and found the bright green thorn sticking out of my finger.  It was not letting go.  I dreaded pulling out that tiny thorn (that looked huge for a moment) because I knew it was going to sting more than it already was.   (Yes, I have birthed 4 children, but I do not enjoy any kind of pain.  And, the pain from this thorn was not going to bless me with a little miracle like the pain of child birth.  Or, was it?).

As I stared at that thorn, the thought of Jesus’s crown of thorns flooded my mind.  The thought of how much pain he must have suffered with most likely hundreds of thorns pushed upon his head overwhelmed me.  Finally, I mustered up enough courage and pulled the thorn from my finger.  I watched three or four drops of blood trickle to the ground.  I lost three or four drops from one thorn, and I was complaining about the pain!  Can you imagine how many drops of blood Jesus shed on Calvary?  Can you imagine His pain?  Oh, how I love Jesus!

Why do we have thorns?  The answer is simple.  Yes, they are a reminder of Adam and Eve’s sin and our sin.  But, more importantly, they remind us of Christ’s love for us!  He took the thorns upon His head, shed His blood, died on Calvary, and ROSE again the third day.  Why? Because He loves us.  He washed our SINS away!  Thank you, Jesus, for the thorns.   Thank you for allowing me to suffer a little for You suffered A LOT!

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans  10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 – For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.