The Legend of the Dogwood: Reminders of Jesus's Precious Blood

     This week my family and I had the privilege to celebrate my birthday with a one-day trip to the Great Smoky Mountains national park. The Smoky Mountains belong in my heart as the most sacred of places. The Cherokee knew they were unique and called them the Land of Blue Smoke.

    This week the dogwood trees were in bloom. There is a well-known tale in the American South of the dogwood tree. The story goes that Jesus's cross was made from dogwood. The dogwood was the greatest of trees, but because it was used as Jesus's cross, it was cursed and blessed at the same time. It became spindly, yet the flower would become a cross symbol. There are four petals in a cross shape on the tree, and they are tinged with red, the character of blood. They are symbols of Jesus's cross and the shedding of his blood.

    Now dogwood trees are not native to Israel, so it is doubtful that the actual cross of  Jesus was made from dogwood.   Yet the legend remains powerful. Many things in the natural world during the springtime point us to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul writes that even God's trinitarian existence is clearly seen in nature. His three in oneness is readily observable. "For from the creation of the world the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood through the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

    The dogwood proclaims Jesus Christ crucified without uttering a single word. It is clear from God's creation that we have a Savior. He is Jesus Christ. If we do not choose to believe in him, it is our own fault. No fault can be laid on him. He's revealed himself through reason in all that we see around us. As St. John the Apostle notes, he's given us many signs and wonders so that we may believe and have eternal life by believing in his name (John 20:31-32). Suspend your doubt; the dogwoods plead for you to believe in Jesus.




                                                  Photo take from Creative Commons

Blessings in Christ,

Jane Shoemaker

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