On Friday, Israeli scientists from the Volcani Agricultural Research Center reveal that the tree which is said to be the material used to create the 'Crown of Thorns' worn by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion may be able to assist in combatting climate change.
The scientists were mostly working during the Holy Week events, studying the Ziziphus Spina-Christi or Christ's Thorn Jujube and were trying to determine if it can assist in the research regarding climate change. The scientists believe that it is a 'pioneer species' which can assist in combatting desertification. The plant is quite hard, making it resistant to high temperatures and aridity. It can also get water from deep underground and remain capable of photosynthesis even if they are exposed to radiation or hotter temperatures.
According to Shabtai Cohen of the Volcani Agricultural Research Center, "It's one of the few species that we can plant on these slopes that have nothing on them. We only know maybe one or two other species that can do that."
There are many speculations as to which plant provided the materials for the crown of thorns that was placed on Christ's head. However, many Christian scholars believe it was the Ziziphus Spina-Christi.
For those from the joint team of the Volcani Agricultural Research Center, France's National Institute for Agricultural Research and Israel's Hebrew University, they see the tree as a symbol of hope as it can support life in very arid areas.
Cohen shares that they hope the research would be able to assist in producing species that can help sustain the ecosystem in the future.
