My rose bushes have begun to bloom and for the most part I left them alone this year until I saw these two beauties. They are my first picks for this year. When I gazed upon them I was reminded that I have heard Jesus referred to as the Rose of Sharon, so I was a little surprised when I did a word search I found the only reference to the Rose of Sharon in Song of Solomon. This is a little read and little know book of the Bible and yet it is a beautiful poetic account of love that at times could make the most mature blush so it is sometimes hard to relate the book to Christ. In fact it is more of an analogy of Christ’s love for the Church.

In the text above, the bride is speaking about herself. Her lover responds that she is a lily among thorns. This is Holy Week, and so many of my thoughts are focused on Jesus’ trek to the cross and how Old Testament Scriptures are fulfilled in the activities that lead us to the cross. When I realized that the bride is referring to herself in a very humble way (because the Rose of Sharon may actually be more like a crocus), then my mind went to another text, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Is. 53:1-2). Indeed, Isaiah was prophesying the manner in which Jesus would be brutally handled on His way to the cross. The remainder of the chapter is almost a play by play of the events on that Good Friday. It was God’s plan.

The story doesn’t end there, but that is for another day. The point is that these roses remind me of Jesus and His love for me.