#ShareYourStory: Droplets Like Blood

By: Stephanie Emge Vasso

I have a story of hope to share in light of the darkness that looms in our fallen world.

When I was in Israel last June we visited the garden of Gethsemane. We all had about 15 minutes to ourselves to sit and reflect. I had my journal, so I started to write and pray.

I told Jesus to not let me forget or take for granted what He went through in that garden, that He was carrying the weight of the world’s sin on His shoulders that He was literally sweating droplets like blood.

Just as I reflected on that thought, I gazed to my right and noticed the tree about a foot from my shoulder had a perfect droplet of sap on it. 

(Later I learned that it is called a dragon tree, and when you cut into the bark the sap is clear, but once it hits the air it turns red, just like blood; so people refer to this sap as the blood of the tree!)

Having gotten that perfect visual in perfect timing, I felt like He may have wanted to tell me more, so later that evening I decided to search online to learn why sap comes out of a tree.

What I discovered offered a perfect analogy/parable for what Jesus went through in that garden.

 It was quickly apparent that the sap is the blood of the tree, and that insects, damage, disease are like sin. 

Jesus taught in parables, so this made perfect sense: The weight of sin that Jesus carried was overwhelming and seeped out, but still He went to the cross and poured out His blood so that we all may have life through Him forever. Available to all…100 percent inclusive!

As Jesus said,

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble! But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Meet Stephanie Vasso

Stephanie is a follower of Jesus, wife and mother to four sons who lives in Tyler, Texas. She is owner Vasso Design Associates, a home design business. In addition, she serves the homeless in her community through a variety of projects that use art to bring beauty and hope to others. You can learn more about her ministry here.

#ShareYourStory:

Yes, I’d Like to Share My Story.