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One of the first things my husband and I did many years ago when we moved to our house here in Gibsonville was to attempt to tame the natural areas that surround our house.

We spent many hours raking leaves, collecting sticks and cutting down thorny vines that had wrapped themselves around several of our trees. The vines were unruly, usually linked from branch to branch, creating a tangled mess that never seemed to end.

It was easy to get pricked, even when wearing garden gloves. A sharp thorn would poke through the fabric, pricking a finger, making it bleed profusely.

As this happened, my thoughts wandered to the crown of thorns Jesus was made to wear as he hung on the cross so long ago.

“They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.” Mark 15:17

Just a poke from one thorn caused me to blink back tears that filled my eyes as I jumped backwards in pain. I could not fathom the intense pain Jesus felt from these thorns pressed into his forehead.

I gathered some thorny vines and wrapped them several times around to make a circle. It was not pretty, but neither was the crown that Jesus was made to wear as the soldiers mocked him.

“And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” Mark 15:20

I placed the crown on our front door as a reminder of the suffering Jesus endured on the cross as he paid the price for our sins.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

Several years later, I once again came upon some thorny vines that had reappeared in part of our yard. I remembered the first crown of thorns I had made so many years before.

Carefully, I once again twisted the thorny vine into a circular shape, tying it off with some floral wire. I found two small branches and fixed them together in the shape of a cross.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

I stuck the cross into an area of our yard where there is a small raised bump in the ground, left over from when a weakened hurricane felled a tree many years ago. I placed the new crown of thorns over the top edge of the cross.

I intended to take it all down after Easter that year, but it has stayed, as its presence reminds me of Jesus’ great sacrifice.

At the base of the small bump, there is a good-sized gray rock that blocks a cut-out area where the base of the tree has sunk into the ground as it decomposed. It reminded me of the tomb where they laid the body of Jesus late Friday as the followers of Christ prepared to observe the Sabbath.

“So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” Mark 15:46
The story does not end there, though.

As the followers of Jesus made their way back to the tomb on the first day of the week following the Sabbath, they discovered an empty tomb.

“The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” Matthew 28:5-6

They quickly learned that Jesus had been resurrected by God.
“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Acts 2:24

Christianity is hinged not just on the death of Jesus, but likewise on his resurrection from the death.

As believers from around the globe remember Jesus throughout Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday, we are reminded of the suffering of Christ as well as the overflowing joy in knowing we serve a risen Savior. Our hearts and minds are quickened with a certain awareness of how great God’s love was for us that he sent his only son.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.