The story of the Bible begins in a garden, where God and humans live together. And the biblical authors want us to see this garden as a type of temple. The top is the most sacred place, the Holy of Holies, where God's presence is most intense. And that's where we find the Tree of Life. So, what's this tree all about? Well, it represents God's own life and creative power that is made available to others. In fact, God's first command is that humans eat from all of the trees, including this one. So you are ingesting God's own life, that sounds intense. Yeah, this meal transforms the one who eats it, or in the words of the story: it leads to eternal life. Okay, but on the way to the Tree of Life, the humans have to pass by another tree called the Tree of Knowing Good and Bad. And God says that eating from this tree will kill you. How does it do that? Well it represents taking the authority to do what is good in your own eyes, and when humans do that... It leads to broken relationships, violence, and death. And so here is the thing, both trees look beautiful, but one of them is a false tree of life. And the humans take from this false tree of life. And they are exiled from the Garden for good. Which raises the question: Can anyone ever get back to the Tree of Life? Well, later on in the story, we meet a man named Moses and he encounters God in a desert tree, on top of a mountain. Oh, you mean the burning bush, where Moses is told that he is standing on holy ground. Yeah, it's a plant on a mountain radiating with God's life and power, just like the tree of life. And God tells Moses bring your people up to this mountain, so we can form a partnership. And this partnership will force them to make a choice: Will they follow gods of their own making, or receive life from the True God? And in this story, they give their allegiance to an idol. And it is just the first of many. The story goes on to show generation after generation choosing gods of their own making And these idols were usually placed on tall hills, like beautiful trees but they are false trees of life that lead the people into self-destruction, exile, and death. It is like death's grip on us is too strong to resist. Is there any hope? Well, let's turn now to the story of Jesus. He came to announce that God's eternal life was available once again, through Him. So, Jesus thinks of himself as the Tree of Life. Yes, this is what he meant when he claimed to be the vine that brings God's life into the world. And Jesus invited people to eat from him. Yeah, he was inviting people to trust him and be transformed by his life. But, Jesus also exposed how corrupt humans are, how much they love false trees of life. And so, Jesus presented people with a new choice between life or death. And this time, they don't just choose death. They also chose to attack the one who sustains all life. Yes, Jesus is led up to the top of a hill, where he dies upon a tree. The cross is the sad and violent result of humanity's desire to do what is good in our own eyes. The Tree of Life has been overcome by the power of death. Well, it seems that way, but Jesus said that he was a seed of God's life that would die in the ground, but then grow into a plant that would bear much fruit. So, to defeat death, Jesus went through it. And now, this new Tree of Life stands before us all. We can eat from it, but it will mean passing through death like Jesus allowing our old way of being human to die. So that a new humanity can grow in its place. Yes, Jesus said he is the vine and we are his branches. So, not only do you eat from this tree, you are invited to become a part of it. Helping produce its fruit, so that his life and love can spread through us, to others. And so, the story of the Bible ends in a new garden. Which is also a kind of temple, with the Tree of Life at its center, providing healing and life forever, to all who choose to eat from it.
There is a sermon by Vos on Hosea called The Wonderful Tree. You might find it interesting.
Relevant section of Hosea
I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From Me comes your fruit.
Man, I love the Bible Project...
They've also been doing a few podcasts on Trees
This is a super interesting take on the Tree of Life as it's presented in Genesis, and how Jesus fulfills it. As one commenter on YouTube said, "Jesus took the tree of death so you could take the tree of life."
What are y'all's thoughts?
I’ve always admired the Bible Project’s artistic style, but I thought everything about this video was lovely.