“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters…Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away… let me see your face, let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely” (vss. 2.1-2,10,14 NKJV).
We just celebrated Mother’s Day this past weekend. The gift to mothers is more often a rose(s) of some nature. This took me to scripture in the Song of Solomon.
In ancient Israel, the rose of Sharon grew in a plain that was called Lasharon. Solomon used the rose to describe the pleasing appearance of a woman with whom he was in love. We don’t know exactly what this flower looks like at that time. The Hebrew word translated as “rose” only tells us it was a saffron, but does not give its color. Some believe this flower from Sharon symbolizes Jesus as the church’s heavenly bridegroom. But there appears to be no direct Biblical connection to the symbolism.
The rose is considered to be the most ‘perfect’ of all flowers. The rose of Sharon has become a powerful symbol of divine beauty, grace, and uniqueness. It signifies the unparalleled and the incomparable nature of the beloved, drawing parallels to the attributes of God himself. The New Testament refers to Jesus as being the Bridegroom, and the church as his Bride.
Jesus is symbolically referred to as the rose of Sharon. He may also be considered the actual rose of Sharon since he is totally perfect within his own nature, just like the rose is supposed to be the most perfect of all flowers. Since Jesus is the Bridegroom in his personal relationship with his church, it would thus be Jesus coming to us to give us the flowers.
But I think it goes deeper than that. I sense that God the Father wants us to have the full realization of how special his Son is to us. And he is using the rose flower to compare his Son with it so we can truly appreciate the beauty and perfection of Jesus and the perfect love that he has for each and every one of us. It is all so clear in John 3.16.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Do you see this love offering? The Rose of Sharon was given to us, so that we might have eternal life and live with him for eternity. Friends, that is true love!! And Jesus puts emphasis on it in this statement. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn. 15.13,14).
What a love offering we have received. Do you have a nice vase in your heart to receive it, plant it, and watch it grow? Hallelujah!!