Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies… Psalm 103:2-4
On Thursday as I walked up to my girlfriend’s house, I saw a cross on her front lawn with a purple cloth hanging over the cross beam. At this time each year her family beautifully commemorates the price Jesus Christ paid for our redemption. Let me share her story with you.
Years ago when her children were young, she wanted her children to understand the significance of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. To help her children visualize what Christmas and Easter were really about, each year she would set up a manger scene on her front lawn at Christmas and in that same place a week before Easter she would set up a cross.
What is unusual about this cross is that it is made from her family’s Christmas tree. Once Christmas is over, her family cuts off all the branches from their Christmas tree. The trunk is then saved and made into a cross at Easter time. In essence, the “Tree of Life,” represented by the evergreen tree at Christmas, is turned into the “Tree of Calvary,” the place where Jesus died. (1 Peter 2:24) And, it is through the cross, the “Tree of Calvary” that you are granted access to the everlasting life of God – to the “Tree of Life.”
Although she had never heard or read about this being done, she knew God was directing her to do so. And now, even though her children are grown and have kids of their own, it has been a constant reminder to her and her family as well as a witness to her neighbors and visitors of Who Christ is and what He did for us through the cross.
On Palm Sunday a purple cloth along with palm branches are placed on the cross.
In the Bible both kings and priests wore purple. John 12:12 tells us that several days before Jesus Christ was crucified, He was hailed as their king, “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” Thus, the prophetic word written in Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled. “Behold your King is coming to you, He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey…”
On Good Friday from midnight until noon, the red cloth with a crown of thorns is placed on the cross.
Red is the symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial work of the cross. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was led from the garden of Gethsemane to a mock trial. Soon afterward, He was whipped mercilessly, causing His flesh to be one bloody mess. They proceeded to beat Him in the face, place on His head a crown of thorns and put a purple robe upon his shoulders, mocking Him as “King of the Jews.” (John 19:1-3) He became so disfigured that you could barely recognize Him. (Isaiah 52:14)
Discover what Jesus’ blood has done for you by clicking on “Who I am in Christ.” (See the section entitled “My Transformation through the Blood of Jesus.”)
To learn more about the crown Jesus bore and its significance for your life see my blog “Crowned with God’s Love and Mercy“. Or, to gain an even greater understanding, see the video teaching with notes entitled “Crowned with God’s Love and Mercy.“
On Good Friday at noon until sunrise on Easter Day, resurrection Sunday, a black cloth with a crown of thorns can be seen.
Black represents darkness and death. About noon on Good Friday, Pilate, the Jewish officials and the people agreed to crucify Jesus Christ. All over the earth the sky became darkened for about 3 hours as Jesus hung on the cross, suffering the death penalty for our sins. This fulfilled the prophetic word spoken in Amos 8:9-10 “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight; and darken the earth in broad daylight.”
As Jesus declared to the world “It is finished!” and to God “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” breathing His last breath, the the thick veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Luke 23:44-46)
During this time, Jesus Who was the sinless spotless lamb was made sin for us. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. In essence, Jesus wore our darkened sin stained robe of unrighteousness as He hung on the cross, so that He could give us His sinless, spotless robe of righteousness.
At sunrise on Easter, the crown of thorns is removed, and a white and a purple cloth are placed on the cross.
In the Bible, as I mentioned earlier, both kings and priests wore purple. Now, Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and is to be exalted as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16) for all eternity. White symbolizes the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and victory over sin, death, and the grave.
Take a moment today to remember the price the price Jesus Christ paid for your redemption, honoring Him and His sacrificial work by receiving all that He purchased for you.
To understand the benefits you have been given through Jesus victorious work of the cross
- Meditate on Psalm 103:2-4
- View the “The Great Exchange of the Cross,” which is a more detailed list of the benefits you have been given.
May you experience the resurrection of Christ – HIs presence and His power – today and every day of your life!
Blessings, Sue Burdullis