Was Jesus' cross made out of dogwood? What is the legend of the dogwood tree?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The dogwood is a genus of between thirty and sixty plants including shrubs, evergreens, and flowering trees. Dogwoods are most common in China, Japan, and the US, but can also be found in Eurasia, although not naturally. The wood is very hard. As the poem named The Legend of the Dogwood suggests, trees large enough to provide lumber for a cross are rare. The Bible does not specify the type of wood used for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The New Testament focuses on the event and its theological significance rather than the specific material details of the cross.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Jesus’ cross is mentioned in the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible does not say what kind of wood was used for the cross. The word "cross" comes from a generic Latin term meaning a piece of wood used as a tool of execution. It's unlikely the cross was actually made from a dogwood tree, but we don't really know.
• Jesus’ cross is referred to in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26, and John 19:17–18. All that is mentioned is that it was a cross, that it was His own, and that He was crucified on it.
• The cross is connected with wood, with passages referring to the cross as a tree (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24), but the focus is not the type of wood but rather the spiritual significance. Galatians 3:13 tells us that Jesus hung on a tree and became a curse for us, taking the punishment of sin for us (cf. Deuteronomy 21:22–23). 1 Peter 2:24 repeats that Jesus bore our sins as He died on the cross so we could die to sin and live to righteousness and experience healing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

In our personal faith journey, the exact nature of the wood used for Jesus' cross is far less important than the immense love and redemption it represents. The cross stands as a powerful symbol of Jesus' sacrificial love and the salvation He offers to all who believe. Reflecting on the cross should inspire deep gratitude for Jesus' willingness to bear our sins and endure such suffering for our sake. This reflection should also motivate us to live in the righteousness and healing He provides. The true significance of the cross lies in the spiritual freedom and eternal hope it brings to our lives.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible does not tell us the type of wood that was used for Jesus’ cross.
• The poem The Legend of the Dogwood refers to Jesus’ cross as made out of dogwood.
• The details of the cross, such as what type of wood it was or its exact shape, are not central. What is important is the salvation that comes to those who believe in Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.

REFLECT

• How does the spiritual significance of the cross and Jesus’ death on it impact your life?
• In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice on the cross?
• How can you live out the righteousness and healing that Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection offer?

ENGAGE

• The legend of the dogwood tree comes from a poem, author unknown, about the relationship between the tree and the cross on which Jesus was crucified:
• In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew
• To a stately size and a lovely hue.
• 'Twas strong and firm, its branches interwoven.
• For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
• Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
• Christ made a promise which still holds good:
• "Never again shall the dogwood grow
• Large enough to be used so.
• Slender and twisted, it shall be
• With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
• As blood stains the petals marked in brown,
• The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
• All who see it will remember Me
• Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
• Cherished and protected, this tree shall be
• A reminder to all of My agony.
• How does understanding the theological significance of the cross help us in our faith journeys, regardless of its physical details?
• In what ways can our community reflect the love and redemption represented by the cross in our actions and relationships?