Thorns and Trees

(Primeval Saints by James Jordan)

I’ve been wondering since reading Through New Eyes where the symbolism of the thistle comes in the scheme of thorns versus trees. It’s always been portrayed as a redeemed thorn it seems, with respect to the combination of its majestic beauty and cursed spikes. Jordan, in Primeval Saints, says that “in the Bible good trees are symbols for righteous men, while thorns and brambles are symbols for violent and ungodly men” (pg. 45). I’m not sure if he’s going to develop that more, but the thing that just struck me is that the redemption of mankind Christ on the tree wearing a crown of thorns……