The Stinging Tree!
"Who Himself bore our sins
in His own body on the tree."
1 Peter 2: 24
The Gympie Gympie, a stinging tree in Australia, is one of
the
most dangerous plants in the world. Those who brush against
its leaves suffer pain described as someone “being burned by
hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.”
There is no cure, and it can take years to recover from
the unbearable pain. So intense is the suffering that it’s
known as the suicide plant. The excruciating pain has
driven humans mad.
Pondering that tree might lead us to think about another tree—the
cross of Jesus. Peter told those responsible for the torturous death
of Christ: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you
murdered by hanging on a tree” (Acts 5:30).
And the apostle Paul said, “Now when they had fulfilled
all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down
from the tree and laid Him in a tomb” (Acts 13:29).
We cannot imagine the intense emotional and
physical suffering Christ endured. We do know
this—by His stripes we are healed!
"Jesus hung on a tree as an object of open shame so it
would be clear beyond any doubt that God was allowing
the death blow of His curse to fall on His Son. All so that
you and I could go free."
Tony Evans
