The Judas Tree

“For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up…” Jeremiah 24:6 NIV

God restores everything in time, even places. This past week was a time of much reflection for me as I journeyed to my hometown, celebrated another birthday and also celebrated Easter. I went on a long jog through the streets of my hometown, and it was an emotional prayer run past old places; some that brought memories of great joy, others that brought memories of pain and regret. I journeyed past homes where death has taken loved ones and the sting remains; I also journeyed past homes where new life abounds. So much has happened in the almost 20 years since I’ve lived there. As I reflected on it all, I could see God’s hand so clearly, slowly and purposefully at work. Time is a gift through which God writes His story. And while sometimes I want to rush it, I am thankful I can’t.

The soundtrack of music in my ears seemed to fit each place as I journeyed as a new creation through these old streets. While running it hit me that I should visit a certain place…a hard place. It was a place I hadn’t seen in years. One that marked an instance that for a long time brought me shame and hurt. Shame and hurt that the Lord has sweetly healed, redeemed and even restored. Do I want to go there? Do I want to see that place? Yes! Healing always invites us back, and then propels us forward.

This was a beautiful spring day with a crystal, clear blue sky and you could taste Easter in the air. Dogwoods abounded, tulips colored the lawns and the grass was an intoxicating green. With each breath of the jog, I inhaled spring. It was time to see this place! I got there and was in shock. It wasn’t the same at all! The place had been reconstructed into something completely different. In fact, it was still under construction, workers everywhere. What I remembered of it no longer existed! Isn’t that amazing!? God says He remembers our sin no more, and that when He sees us, He sees someone new. Our old regrets transform into construction zones for something new and useful. They don’t even exist anymore! I was overwhelmed; my heart was bursting in praise and awe and wonder! Could it be true? Could it be gone?

And there in front of the construction was this little tree:

It was as if God handed me a bouquet of spring flowers and showered me with love. A gift just for me! I received it, and His healing touch to that place sent ripples of grace to shorelines not yet reached.

Days later, I could not get that purple tree off my mind. So I went on a treasure hunt to explore what kind of tree it was. Be prepared to be blessed! These trees are redbud trees and they cover the Southeast in the Spring. Another name for them is the Judas tree. Judas? Hmmmm. There is a theory that Judas hung himself on a redbud tree. And the red buds remind us of his shame. This made me sad. There had to be more to the story. I continued researching this tree and discovered that redbuds, as you’ll notice when you see them, are unusually short and their branches are very weak. There is no way someone could hang from one of them. And indeed they can’t…because…God has transformed them! Since the time of Judas’s death, these trees have become shorter with smaller branches as a reminder that we don’t have to hang ourselves in shame for betraying God in light of the cross!

My husband, whose father committed suicide, came to faith in Christ through a sermon about Judas. The line that changed his life was “the cross makes the noose unnecessary.” These sweet purple trees are a beautiful reminder of that truth during this season! The natural so often points to the spiritual and that couldn’t have been more true of my visit to this place. Our hard places transform into construction sites for something new and we, like the redbud tree, no longer hang onto shame because Jesus hung on the cross for us.

And, there’s more! These trees have heart-shaped leaves, a reminder of God’s perfect love for us. Not only that, the purple flowers turn into sweet, good fruit you can eat.

“Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises.” Psalm 66:4 NLT

Are there places of pain in your life? Places that if revisited bring shame and regret? I pray these beautiful redbud trees blooming in our city this month bring you hope! Hope that in His perfect time, God can transform our dark places into completely new places with the purpose of displaying His glory. Instead of our shame, we will receive a double portion. We will live in joy and peace…and trees of the field will clap their hands. (ref Isaiah 61:7, 55:12)

Written by ~ Katie Taylor

Tags: construction sites, Easter, judas tree, Our City On A Hill, redbud tree, restoration, resurrection, Soul Food