Crushed for our Sake

As Easter Sunday approaches, I find myself full of gratitude for the time I have had at home during the Coronavirus quarantine. For the last several weeks I have had additional time to let go of most of the cares of the world and have focused more on my family and the gospel.

More specifically, I have enjoyed studying and pondering the topic of trees and the deep symbolism found in them. It seems as though all the great prophets of old used tree imagery as a metaphorical backdrop for their sermons.

As a friend and I were recently discussing some of the symbolism of trees, we found it curious that in much of the tree imagery used in Jacob chapter 5 (the allegory of the vineyard), Isaiah 11, and many other places in scripture, we read of trees being planted, digged about, branches being scattered, and grafted in various parts of the vineyard. It seemed strange that a tree would be planted in a vineyard which is usually the term used for grapevines, not trees. Orchard or grove, I thought, might be a more fitting term.

I wondered if a Hebrew word search on vineyard might show some connection to orchards, but vineyard in the pure sense of viticulture was truly the correct word. Then my friend discovered that olive trees and grapevines are good companion crops and are often planted together in vineyards. Both are self-pollinating which means they don’t require insects or birds to disperse pollen between their flowers, and Olive trees shelter grape vines against damaging winds.  

As I pondered the connection of the two crops, I realized that both fruits are pressed for the juice and oil they produce. I looked to the Hebrew words to see what I could learn about the process of extracting the fluids of these fruits and found that the word crushed is often used. In ancient times grapes would be placed in a vat and stepped upon by the servants of the vineyard, releasing the juice from the grapes.

Due to the firmer texture of the olive, they apparently required a more mechanical system to extract the oil. I’ve read about extremely heavy stones being lowered upon them, or systems whereby an animal might be employed with ropes and devices to essentially grind and crush the fruit in order to harvest oil.

After considering these things my mind turned to Isaiah’s words concerning the Savior’s precious atoning sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane, who said “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). It occurred to me that sacred garden was likely populated with the two fruit producing crops described here.

Seeking a little more insight, I looked through my Hebrew lexicon to see if there was more. It turns out the word Isaiah used that was translated as bruised would be a little more accurate as crushed. I invite you to reread that last verse with this word substitution and consider the love and mercy of Christ.

The connection to the Savior’s experience in Gethsemane became more real, and heart breaking for me as the visual of an enormous stone of significant weight representing the collective sins of mankind, was pressed down upon Him. The resulting suffering, he described in his own words, “caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” (D&C 19:18).

The visual of blood covering His crushed body can be uncomfortable but is so essential when considering what He did for us. In ancient times, the wine of a grape following fermentation was found useful as a cleansing agent and was placed in wounds in the same way we might disinfect using rubbing alcohol today. Olive oil was also applied to assist in the soothing and healing process. Truly, we are cleansed in the blood of Christ, if we accept His matchless gift.

The healing and cleansing aspects of olive oil and the wine remind me of a sobering lamentation by the prophet Jeremiah. Speaking of the wicked Israelites, the covenant people of the Lord who had failed to heed the many warnings of their impending day of tribulation, Jeremiah said: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved… Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? (Jeremiah 8:20). There was healing balm, oh Israel, but you did not apply it. And there is healing balm today, oh Israel.

Jesus was bruised and stricken for our sakes. He was crushed by the burden of sin, your sin. My sin. He did it willingly. I am a witness that He is the balm in Gilead. He is my physician and has taken away the bitterness of sin in my cup. Though my sins are as scarlet, He makes me white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). May we as modern Israel, be delivered from modern tribulations through His grace, and may you find peace in the Savior’s healing blood, and soothing oil in your life, is my Easter prayer.