By: Obed Pineda
“For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:24)
Horticulture is defined as “the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). As the definition explains, a horticulturist specializes in the cultivation of plants, depending of the division of horticulture it is focused on. One of their more basic practices is plant propagation. This practice perpetuates the growth of new plants either by seeds, cuttings, or other parts of the plant. The two primary objectives of plant propagation is to multiply more plants of its kind and to preserve the basic traits of said plant. One such way by which a plant can be horticulturally propagated is through grafting. Grafting is possible because a plant can regenerate tissues and other parts; this is known as the vegetative reproduction. Thus, grafting takes place when a scion of one plant (i.e. a bud or a shoot of the plant) is joined to the stock (i.e. the root) of another plant. However, it is valuable to learn that grafting can only be done on woody type plants because of its physiological components. Woody plants, such as the grape vine or an olive tree, are composed of the cambium, phloem, and xylem. The cambium is the single layer of cells from where all plant growth originates, the phloem is the inner bark that transports water and nutrients upward in the plant to the leaves for photosynthesis, and the xylem is the white area of the stem where the photosynthesized sugars are sent down the plant to the roots. Of these three parts of the woody plant, the cambium layer is undeniably the most important because all life in the plant depends on this single layer of cells. From the cambium cells are formed inward (the area that adds wood and strength to the stem) and cells are formed outward (the area that provides for more sap flow). For this reason, when grafting a stem or bud to the root of another plant, it is necessary for the cambium of both plants to be jointed together completely and tightly. Once combined, the union of the two will interlock through the new masses of cells that begin to heal (i.e.grow into each other) the injured surfaces (i.e.the cut area of the scion and stock). It is certainly marvelous to learn that the apostle Paul possessed this knowledge (or the Spirit revealed it to him, through inspiration) when he used the analogy of a grafted olive tree in reference to the Church (cf. Romans 11:15-24). Keep in mind that when the inspired apostle used his analogy, he was cautioning those Christians who came out of the Gentile world to “not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either” (Romans 11:18-21). Paul’s point to them was that in Christ, that enmity between Jew and Gentile was put to rest “for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation” (Galatians 6:15, cf. Ephesians 2:14-16). His goal was to quell any lingering desires of revenge and replace it with the evangelistic spirit of forgiveness and compassion. The apostle to the Gentiles was reminding them that the same process that put them into Christ, would work just as effectively for every Jew who repented and accepted Jesus’ conditions for salvation. Furthermore, he was also urging them to be grateful and acknowledge that Israel had an important role in the scheme of redemption “for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22b). It must be noted that life and growth is found in Jesus, who is the cambium layer of God’s olive tree (cf. John 15:1-6). Paul explained to Timothy that God’s grace “has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2nd Timothy 1:10-11). Holy Writ manifests that the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Scriptures (cf. 1st Corinthians 15:1-4). This is what was being taught by Paul, the apostles, and the Church in the first century (cf. Acts 2:14-39, 8:4-40). The message has been, and still is, for mankind to accept the Gospel of Christ by obeying the Gospel of Christ (cf. Romans 1:5-6, 16:25-26). Here is where a better, deeper understanding of how the grafting process works reveals its precious worth. Most horticulturists practice a form of grafting called “budding.” The grafter takes a bud of the desired plant and inserts into the host with the desired root system. Because it is the simplest, quickest, and most successful approach, most fruit trees are grafted this way. Paul asked the Christians in Rome, “do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Paul repeated this truth in his epistle to the Colossians adding, “in Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:11-13). Indeed, it is indisputable that only in Jesus (the cambium layer of heaven’s true vine) can the branches of the wild olive tree and the broken branches of the natural tree find “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15b). It behooves us, however, not to forget to mention one very important detail pertinent for the grafting to work. Once the scion and stock are united, contamination from outward sources must be sealed off for a period of time. It was for this reason that Paul warned the Gentile Christians in Rome to beware becoming boastful and haughty. Christ commands that those of us who have grown and thrived in our spiritual lives to assist newborn babes in their newness of life by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20a). Remember that growth originates from the cambium, and for this reason Peter instructs, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2nd Peter 3:18). It is truly extraordinary to have the chance to awe at God’s magnificent power unveiled in His holy Word, especially as it relates to our justification (cf. Romans 11:33-36).