Jesus is a thistle.
Stay with me.
One of the ministries I support is Thistle Farms of Nashville. It’s the social enterprise of Magdalene, a residential program for women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets.
Why a thistle?
From their website: “Thistles grow on the streets and alleys where residents and graduates of Magdalene walked. Considered weeds, thistles have a deep root that can shoot through concrete and survive drought. In spite of their prickly appearance, their royal and soft purple center makes the thistle a mysterious and gorgeous flower. Being a Thistle Farmer means the world is our farm and that we choose to love all creation.”
One of the slogans of Magdalene and Thistle Farms is love heals. This, to me, is one very succinct way to summarize the Gospel. Jesus himself is love in the flesh, love come down from heaven, love fully given. In the Christian east, salvation uses healing language, so there is a very real sense in which “Jesus saves” and “love heals” speak the same truth.
Love heals through Jesus the Thistle.
Jesus is the Thistle, who was clothed in royal purple for his brutal coronation on the cross. Jesus is the Thistle, resilient unto death and triumphing over it, who breaks the bonds of sin and death. Jesus is the Thistle, the resilient flower, who embraces all his suffering ones and clothes them in the gorgeous purple of his mercy and love.
Please join me in praying for and financially supporting the women of Magdalene.