The flowers with two petal-like bracts are sweet and have pleasing colours in shades of red, pink, light yellow and white but the spiny stems look lethal and that was why I always stayed clear of this plant until I found out its common names a year ago. Now every time when I look at it my heart is softened and my emotion is stirred, and I have come to love this unique plant; it’s various common names are “crown of thorns”, “Christ thorn” and “Christ plant”.

On Good Friday, we remembered…

Isaiah 53:5
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

以 賽 亞 書 53:5
⁵哪 知 他 為 我 們 的 過 犯 受 害 ， 為 我 們 的 罪 孽 壓 傷 。 因 他 受 的 刑 罰 ， 我 們 得 平 安 ； 因 他 受 的 鞭 傷 ， 我 們 得 醫 治 。

Ephesians 1:7
⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

以 弗 所 書 1:7
⁷ 我 們 藉 這 愛 子 的 血 得 蒙 救 贖 ， 過 犯 得 以 赦 免 ， 乃 是 照 他 豐 富 的 恩 典 。