The Bramble and His Thorns

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.”

1 Peter 5:6

Humility is seeing oneself as one truly is, a sinner, and in need of God’s abundant mercy. For “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).

This “…saying is sure and worthy of all acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15). These words of Timothy ring true for the bramble, for he too, like Timothy, is the foremost of sinners. When the bramble surveys his life, he sees a life often lived far from God, a life of many falls and many failures. When he looks in on himself, he sees his many thorns. Indeed, if the bramble is worthy of heaven at his passing, he will most certainly be the least among all the saints of God.

This is not to say that the bramble has no hope, for “…hope does not disappoint…” (Romans 5) and “…mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13). But it is his very life that calls him to humility, to seeing himself as he truly is. But there is something new now, Christ and His abundant mercy. For the bramble, in its littleness, trusts surely in God’s unfathomable mercy. It is the bramble’s constant disposition to be like the tax collector, and every moment begging, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

There is something else that the bramble must consider, a worthy meditation. It was not the lily or the rose that was chosen to crown our Lord King, but alone it was the bramble. How great and terrible was this calling. For certainly the bramble has pierced our Lord with his sin, but so too has he acknowledged and proclaimed the reality of Christ’s kingship over all humanity. For if such a lowly and uninviting branch can be made the crown of Christ the King, so too is there hope for so lowly a plant in the garden of the Lord.

“Lord, as we acknowledge our sin before You, restore us to Your grace by Your abundant mercy. We know who we are of ourselves, but we know who we are in You. May this hope we have in You not disappoint but bring us to the joy of life eternal with You.  Amen.”