In our back yard we have a huge, old weeping willow tree. That tree brings back fond memories of my childhood and of camping out with Billie and our kids when they were mere tots. In fact, I often joke that I bought the tree and the house came with it.
It’s one of the tallest willow trees I can ever recall seeing. A few years back I found out that the reason it is so big is that there is an underground natural spring a few lots over from us that feeds it. If it weren’t for the massive roots of this beautiful, thirsty old tree, our back yard would likely be a swampy mess.
In our Christian life we, too, have a tree; the cross of Calvary. Unlike my willow tree, which has many branches, this tree bore a single Branch, Jesus Christ. And while the roots of my tree feed it and keep my yard from being a mess, think how much more Jesus, the Root, feeds us. And without Him, what a terrible mess our lives would be.
Just as the tree that Moses threw into the bitter waters of Marah sweetened them (Exodus 15:22-27), having Jesus in our lives will do the same. As Matthew Henry put it, He “sweetens the bitter waters of affliction to all the faithful, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation.” What a joy we have in that knowledge.
Rom 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.
Father,
Thank You for that tree of Calvary and the saving grace we have through our Lord Christ Jesus.
Greg Wolford
© 2009
Great piece to share
Excellent piece! Symbolism often lover looked and not understood but SO important.
It’s nice to read your work it is so passionate and believable. Reading this gives me so much peace. Thank you!
Jesus does indeed sweeten the life of the believer. Thanks for sharing this. Be blessed!
Great symbolism here. How we need to stay connected to the Branch for our very life.
All I can say id WOW and so True! Thanks for sharing this.