The Gympie Gympie, a stinging tree in Australia is one of the most dangerous plants in the world. Those who brush against its leaves suffer pain that’s described as someone “being burned by the hot acid and electrocuted at the same time. There is no cure and it takes years to recover from the unbearable pain. So intense is the suffering that it’s known as the suicide plant. The excruciating pain has driven humans mad.
Pondering that tree might lead us to think about another tree-the cross of Jesus. Peter told those who are responsible for the torturous death of Christ. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.”(Acts 5:30) And the Apostle Paul said, “Now that they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb” (Acts 13:29)
We cannot imagine he intense emotional and physical suffering Christ endured, but we know this-by His stripes we are healed! He was wounded for us, so that we might live for Him.