The Rose of Sharon

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. He as a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. She as an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. (Song of Solomon 2:1-4 ESV).

It is a time for roses. Having spent a long time in Tyler, Texas I am familiar with roses. After all, Tyler is known as “the rose capital of the world.” There is good reason for this designation. In fact, if you go to your local nursery to buy a rose bush the chances are very high that it will have been produced and grown in Tyler. The city celebrates this industry with the world-famous Rose Garden. It features 14 acres, 35,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties of roses. It is wonderful to walk the paths and take in the pleasant fragrances of the blooms. Perhaps you will purchase some roses for your “valentine” this year. I found an interesting article recently. It is true that as the old superstitions fade and Emily Post-like etiquette evolves, you're probably not counting the number of roses or orchids or hydrangeas you give on Valentine's Day. But the number of roses given once held hidden meanings. Here is a partial list to muse about: One rose: Love at first sight, or "you are still the one." Two roses: Mutual love and affection. Three roses: The traditional three-month anniversary gift also simply means "I love you." Six roses: Infatuation, or "I want to be yours." Nine roses: A big jump up from six, nine roses symbolizes eternal love or "I want to be with you forever." 10 roses: A perfect 10 means "You are perfection." 12 roses: A dozen is like picking the best heart from a Sweetheart candy box; it means "be mine." Our reading today brings our attention to another flower, “the Rose of Sharon.” While it is probably a reference to a crocus or hibiscus of some variety, this passage has long been thought to be a reference to Jesus. It is not altogether unreasonable to make this comparison. The rose is the most common as well as the most beautiful of flowers. You find it in all countries and in all places. In fact, it is the universal flower: it belongs to everybody. And in this respect it resembles Christ. He is Savior to rich and poor, young and old, strong and weak; Jesus is for all men. The grace extended through Him shows no prejudice in its efficacy. Perhaps that’s the meaning you should remember this year as you give or receive your roses.