There’s a song that’s been playing on my Christian radio station lately entitled, “Roses,” by Andrew Ripp.  A phrase in the lyrics especially caught my attention because of the unique perspective it brings, especially during this past Holy Week.

Planted the tree where He would die.

Put thorns down the vine, and then He wore them.

I couldn’t help but make the connection between the things created by Jesus back in the beginning of time – and how that same creation was part of the greatest travesty of justice the world has ever seen.  The painful crown of thorns and the torturous death on that tree.

As we’ve just celebrated this past weekend, a perfect, sinless Savior died the most horrific death possible to pay the penalty for our sins, and secure for us a perfect eternity.  It’s not humanly possible for us to comprehend the depth of that sacrifice.  I’ll trust you delved into all that this past Friday through Sunday.

As I thought about these words, I wondered just how far I could take this idea.

What about the sour vinegar that Jesus was given when he said, “I thirst?”  Did Jesus not create the grape vine for that vinegar and the bitter agent added to it?

Or how about the instrument of torture during Jesus’ scourging?  According to Wikipedia, “The usual instrument was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals.”

Once again, the leather and the bones would come directly from animals who were descended from those first animals in the Garden of Eden, part of God’s creation.

Let me take this one step further and look at all those who shouted, “Crucify him!  Crucify him!” And the Roman soldiers who carried out the crucifixion.  Were they also not part of God’s creation?

And finally, let’s not forget on whose behalf Jesus went to the cross.  It was for you.  And it was for me.

Yes, in essence, all of creation turned against Jesus in those final hours.  Plant, animal and human.

It takes the extent of Jesus’ betrayal to a whole new level, doesn’t it?  Far beyond the few that gathered around that cross of death.

It broke my heart to ponder, once again, the depth and the length and the width of Jesus’ suffering, and the sense of unimaginable betrayal that must have descended upon him.

As hard as it is to think on these things, I believe it’s essential that we do so (more often than we do …) to help us grasp the kind of sacrifice that was necessary to cover the sins of the world.  How much time do we spend contemplating our own contribution to Jesus’ path to the cross?

It brings me to tears, and causes me to reflect on how far I’ve fallen from the perfection of Eden.   And that leads me to repentance and a renewed plea that God would continue his sanctifying work in my life until the day he takes me home.

As I finish out the thought process on how all creation turned against Jesus, I really shouldn’t be surprised by that. 

Romans 8:19-23 is a text that reminds us, in very unmistakable terms, that we humans are not the only ones who long for Jesus to restore and redeem us.  His entire creation, the one that has turned its back on Jesus, will be fully restored one day soon.  What a glorious thought!

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

So, with Easter in our rear-view mirror, let’s not forget the broad reach, not just of the betrayal against Jesus, but of the complete restoration that awaits those who have put their trust in this finished work on the cross.

My sorrow, my betrayal, my repentance all turn to joy as I eagerly await Jesus’ final return.  How about you?

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 10:12