Troubled by Thorns
—Trials of the faithful
Among the mentions of thorns in the Bible, four references stand out. One passage is about a thorn in the flesh, inflicted by Satan. A second is about the thorns of the world that distract us from Jesus. A third is about the crown of thorns worn by Jesus. The fourth is about the thorns that grew in the desolation of Jerusalem.
1 Thorns of Satan
Jesus declined to heal Paul’s "thorn in the flesh", but gave Paul sufficient grace to bear it.
2Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV)
First consider the manner in which Jesus treated the Apostle Paul who suffered some physical illness or disability. Paul called his trouble a "thorn in the flesh" and he prayed to be rid of it.
The third time that Paul prayed, the Lord told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you". Paul was also given to understand why his suffering should continue.
Many people believe that Jesus, by his suffering, takes away not only our sins, but also our sicknesses. Paul’s thorn proves that to be wrong.
Another misconception is that God punishes us by inflicting the thorns that trouble us. Paul called his thorn "a messenger of Satan", not a messenger of God. Jesus declined to heal Paul’s thorn, but it was Satan who inflicted it.
The Lord was helping Paul to be righteous, not punishing him for sin. The Lord allowed Paul to suffer as a discipline to strengthen him.
Satan has another device. He multiplies our worries and offers worldly pleasures that distract us from what is important.
2 Thorns of the World
Jesus spoke a parable about how the cares and pleasures of the world are like thorns that choke good seed.
Luke 8:5-8,14
5 A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop —a hundredfold..."
14 ...The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature (Luke 8:5-8,14 BSB).
When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the devil thought he knew how to begin. Jesus "had fasted forty days and 40 nights and afterward he was hungry". So the devil enticed Jesus to turn stones into bread hoping he would obey. But Jesus stayed with the word of God and did not heed the word of Satan (Matthew 4:1-4).
Jesus tells us, "Do not worry about tomorrow... seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." (Matthew 6:31-34). It is a shame to spend excessive time and thought on the treasures and pleasures of this world, choking our spiritual growth with worldly thorns.
Paul tells how he kept his life in the flesh clear of choking thorns and dedicated to Jesus Christ: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Furthermore the words "gave Himself" points to the life of Jesus, how dedicated he was to God’s kingdom, righteousness, and truth —so much so that he was willing to suffer agony and death.
3 Thorns of Sacrifice
Jesus was made to wear a cruel crown of thorns as part of his suffering for humanity
John 19:1-3
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3 And they went up to Him again and again, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and slapping Him in the face. 4 Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him." 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" 6 As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (John 19:1-6 NKJV).
The crown of thorns was one of the cruelties inflicted on Jesus the Son of God at his crucifixion. The sum of those cruelties amounted to the perfect sacrificial suffering for the sins of the world (John 3:16; 1Peter 2:21).
"For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps" (1Peter 2:21, see vv22-25 NASB).
By the judgment against Christ, and his sacrifice and suffering, we can stand ready to meet him at his coming judgment of us. There have already been judgments executed by Jesus. You can see them, for example, back in Isaiah’s time
4 Thorns of Judgment
Jesus made desolate his "vineyard" because it was bereft of righteousness. Thorns and briars grew among the ruins.
Isaiah 5:1-7
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.
4 What more could have been done to My vineyard
That I have not done in it?
Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,
Did it bring forth wild grapes?
5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard:
I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned;
And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
6 I will lay it waste;
It shall not be pruned or dug,
But there shall come up briers and thorns.
I will also command the clouds
That they rain no rain on it
(Isaiah 5:1-7 NKJV).
The Assyrians took Israel captive and left it in ruins where thorns and briars grew (Isaiah 7:23-25). Later the Chaldeans destroyed Jerusalem and exiled Judeans to Babylon. Thorns grew among the ruins and on the land left waste (Isaiah 5:6).
This was not the first time God cursed land with thorns. In fact, Adam received this judgment for his first sin. "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you..." (Genesis 3:17-18 NKJV).
These judgments and punishments bear witness that there is a judgment coming in which "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2Corinthians 5:10 NKJV).
When Jesus judges us, he will be looking for righteousness gained through faith in him (Philippians 3:9). If he does not find such faithfulness in us, then we will be like thorns cast into the fire. "For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers" (Isaiah 9:18 NKJV).
May we be granted sufficient grace to bear the thorns that Satan inflicts on us.