Topic(s): Jesus

Once three trees in the woods discussed their dreams. The first said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest filled with gold, silver, and precious gems. I’d like to be decorated with intricate carving so everyone would see my beauty.”

The second said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the water and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

The third said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. Seeing me on top of the hill, people will look up and think of the heavens and how close to them I reach. I will be the greatest tree of all time. People will always remember me.”

After years of praying their dreams would come true, a woodsman came upon the trees. As he cut the first tree he said, “This is a beautiful tree. I’ll sell the wood to a carpenter.” The tree was happy, because he knew a carpenter could make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, “This is a strong tree. I’ll sell it to the shipyard.” The tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsman came to the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if he was cut down his dreams would never come true. He wept as the woodsman indeed cut him down.

• The first tree arrived at the carpenter’s shop and was made into a feed box for animals! This was not at all what he had prayed for.

• The second tree was made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

• The third tree was cut into pieces and left alone in the dark.

Years went by and the trees forgot their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and placed her baby in the hay of the feed box. The man, a carpenter himself, wished he had made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. Little did the tree know that it now held the greatest treasure of all time.

Some years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat. One was tired and fell asleep. While out on the water, a great storm arose. The tree did not think it was strong enough to keep his passengers safe. The men woke the sleeping man. He stood and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped! The tree then knew he carried the King of kings.

Someone finally came to get the third tree. It was placed on a man’s back and carried through the streets as people mocked and shouted. Eventually, they stopped and the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree became the tree people would always remember because Jesus had been crucified on it.

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree” —Acts 5:30