Very little is said in Genesis about the Tree of Life; it is mentioned only three times in Genesis 2 and 3. We are told it "stood in the midst of the garden." And we are told that after Adam and Eve sinned, God made sure that neither of them were able to get to and eat of the Tree of Life. In fact, He banished them from the Garden, specifically because of the Tree of Life. The question is why?
And the answer is simply "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever." (Gen. 3:22) God did not want man to live forever in his fallen condition.
But there are several biblical references that use "a" tree of life as an analogy:
- Wisdom "is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her" (Proverbs 3:18);
- "the fruit of righteousness is a tree of life" (Proverbs 11:30);
- "a gentle tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4)
And there are the references to "the" Tree of Life in Revelation:
- "to him who overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7);
- "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2);
- "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14).
It doesn't quite seem as though "the" Tree of Life is one tree. For Revelation 22:1-2 describes the tree of life being on either side of the river which I take to mean "both" sides of the river. It could be that the Tree of Life is the name of a species of tree, the fruit of which causes one to live forever, and the leaves of which are medicinal, or healing; possibly, but not limited to, spiritual healing. It is clearly a tree that bears fruit each and every month, no matter the season.
Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) "In Him was life" (John 1:4). The Tree of Life could be symbolic of Jesus who declared Himself to be "living water" to the woman at the well, or as the same scripture in Revelation 22:1-2 describes "a pure river of life."
The Tree of Life is a reminder of Paradise Lost in Genesis, and is the hope of Paradise Regained in Revelation….hope possible only through the One who is the Life: Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
Your sayings below have got me thinking…
“Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) "In Him was life" (John 1:4). The Tree of Life could be symbolic of Jesus who declared Himself to be "living water" to the woman at the well, or as the same scripture in Revelation 22:1-2 describes "a pure river of life. The Tree of Life is a reminder of Paradise Lost in Genesis, and is the hope of Paradise Regained in Revelation….hope possible only through the One who is the Life: Jesus Christ.”
I connected tree with fruit and how most trees bear some form of fruit. Then I began thinking how we as humans are to be fruitful (procreation); but like a tree we are to bear fruit. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:16
God expects us to be productive and “fertilizes” his human trees with spiritual growth through His word. It is through His word we grow strong and receive strength, even at our weakest points.
I like your comment about Christ possibly being the Tree of Life, but we do know He is the “living water.”
Like a branch, if it is cut off from a vine, it dies; we too die spiritually if we are cut off from Jesus Christ. "Abide in Me, and I in you," Christ tells us. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me . . . for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). We are nothing without Christ.
Some of the fruits we are to demonstrate: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV). God also desires the fruits of good works and service to others…to be the salt and light to the world! (Titus 3:14; Matthew 5:14-16; 25:31-46). GW
I don't know if Jesus actually IS the tree of life, but that it might be SYMBOLIC of He Who IS LIFE; for we know that in heaven He IS both the only Light (for there will be no need of the sun) and He is also the River of Life that flows in the midst. But then man is often referred to in the Bible as being "trees": whether trees that are dried up and bearing no fruit (Jude 1:12) or trees that are planted by the river bringing forth fruit in season (Psalm 1). But most often we are referred to, as you indicated, by use of the term "fruit". Your relating the fruit of the tree is so pertinent as we are the fruit of that tree (whether it is a vine or a huge oak)...as we show others the way to the Life that Jesus is. Glad you're back GW!
Post a Comment