Jesus was a man of the people.
He used bits and pieces from the daily lives of the people in the stories he told them. There are one hundred and ten plants named in Scriptures, what Christians call The Old Testament and The New Testament. The Old Testament prophets used plants as examples in their teaching. Isaiah, however, used the most plant examples. Jesus, like the prophets he mentioned, lived in a world where plants were important. He also used them as examples in his teaching.
Jesus used mustard seed (Brassica nigra) as he taught about the kingdom of God. With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed... (Mark 4:30-32)
Mustard seed is crushed for mustard flavoring, mustard-seed oil and remedies like mustard plasters for chest sickness. Mustard plants grow in Israel over six feet tall (2 meters) while its seed is only a fraction of an inch (1 mm) around. Mustard plants are a common sight around the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus was met by people waving palm branches (Phoenix dactylifera) when he came to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' (John 12:12-13)
The date palm is a fruit tree with ancient tradition in the Holy Land. It is mentioned many times in the Bible as a symbol for justice and good. It was a custom for people to greet and honor great leaders, heroes and winners of competitions with palm branches. This is why people with palm branches greeted Jesus as he rose into Jerusalem on the donkey.
Palms also produce sweet fruit and juice made from the trunk. Bees make honey from flower pollen. Leaves are woven into mats and baskets, while wood is used for fences, roofs, and rafts. Palms were originally oasis plants, but are now very much cultivated.
Jesus prayed in a garden of olive trees (Olea Europea) the night before he died.
The garden was in Jerusalem by the foot of the Mount of Olives. The name of this garden is Gethsemani (Gethsemane) which means oil press. Sit down here while I pray, Jesus said to his followers. (Mark 14:32) and (Matthew 26:36)
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