Former NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and bestselling author Tim Tebow is offering readers a fresh perspective on one of Christianity's most powerful symbols.
Set to release on February 24, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross That Saw It All tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion through an unexpected lens - the wooden cross itself, imagined as a tree whose life and purpose are transformed through its encounter with Christ.
For Tebow, the message at the heart of the book is simple but profound: what looks like shame can become redemption, and what feels like a mess can become a message.
From Seedling to Calvary
In discussing the inspiration behind the book, Tebow said he began reflecting on Luke 19:40, where Jesus declares that if people remain silent, "the stones will cry out."
That Scripture led him to imagine what it would have been like to be the closest object to Jesus on the day of the crucifixion.
"And that is the wooden cross that He was hanging on," Tebow shared in a recent interview.
The story begins with a small seed growing into a tree with dreams of becoming something significant - perhaps a door, a table, or even a throne. Instead, the tree is cut down and fashioned into a cross, an object historically associated with criminals and humiliation.
Its dreams appear shattered.
But everything changes at Calvary.
"You fast-forward to his encounter with Jesus on the cross, and his perspective changes," Tebow explained. "He sees the love of God, and how his life is transformed because of this encounter with Jesus."
A Symbol Transformed
Tebow acknowledged that the cross was once a symbol of guilt, torture, and disgrace. Yet today, it stands as one of the most recognized symbols of hope and salvation around the world.
"Ultimately, when you look at what God has done, the cross - which in the past was only a symbol of shame - now means hope all over the world," he said.
For Tebow, that transformation reflects the Christian journey itself.
"God can show up, and He can turn something that feels like only a mess into a message," he said. "I feel like that's the story of the cross. But it also gets to be the story of our life."
The book, illustrated by Rommel Ruiz, visually traces the tree's journey from seedling to sacrifice, capturing both the heartbreak and the redemption embedded in the story.
A Message for a Searching Generation
Beyond the narrative, Tebow also spoke about what he sees as a growing spiritual hunger, particularly among young people.
"I think people are realizing that the more followers and likes they get doesn't matter anymore," he said. "You've got to live with who you are on the inside."
He believes many are discovering that social media success and public affirmation cannot provide lasting identity or purpose.
"Christianity isn't this religion that makes you a little bit better," Tebow said. "It's a relationship that takes you from dead to alive, from lost to found."
In his view, today's revival is fueled by a deeper search for meaning - one that can only be satisfied through a relationship with Jesus.
Living the Message
Tebow has consistently integrated his faith into both his public life and philanthropic work. In 2010, he founded the Tim Tebow Foundation, which focuses on serving vulnerable populations, including children who have been trafficked or abused.
He and his wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow - speaker, author, entrepreneur, and former Miss Universe 2017 - recently welcomed their daughter, Daphne. The family resides in Jacksonville, Florida.
As If the Tree Could Speak prepares to launch, Tebow continues using storytelling to point readers back to the Gospel.
Through the imagined voice of a once-forgotten tree, he reminds readers that what seems broken is not beyond redemption - and that in the hands of God, even a symbol of suffering can become a beacon of hope.
