What about the Trees
The Significance of Trees: From Eden to Eternity
From the very first pages of Scripture to its final chapter, trees stand as silent witnesses to God's unfolding plan for humanity. They're not mere background scenery in the biblical narrative—they're central characters in the greatest story ever told.
In the Beginning: God's First Creation
Before the sun and moon illuminated the sky, before stars twinkled in the darkness, God said, "Let there be trees." Genesis records that God created vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
This wasn't random. The placement of trees at creation's dawn signals something profound: God wanted to emphasize their importance throughout the entire biblical story. When God refers to wisdom in Proverbs 3:18, He calls it "a tree of life to those who take hold of her."
Trees as Symbols of Spiritual Life
The prophet Jeremiah paints a beautiful picture of what it means to trust in God: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
This imagery is powerful. A tree planted by water doesn't just survive—it thrives. Its roots go deep, finding sustenance even in difficult seasons. When drought comes, it remains green and continues producing fruit. This is the life God offers those who remain connected to Him.
Miraculous Trees Throughout Scripture
The Bible is filled with remarkable stories involving trees. When Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness and they found only bitter water at Marah, God instructed Moses to cut down a tree and throw it into the water. The water became sweet. Significantly, this was a test, and God declared: "I am the Lord who heals you."
When Elisha's students were building a larger dwelling and lost a borrowed axe head in the murky Jordan River, Elisha cut a branch from a tree and threw it in the water. The iron axe head floated—an impossible miracle made possible by God.
Isaiah prophesied about trees growing in the desert—cedar, acacia, myrtle, cypress, pine—all thriving where they shouldn't exist. Why? "That they may see and know and consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this" (Isaiah 41:19-20).
Jesus and the Trees
Jesus' ministry is punctuated with tree encounters. When He first called Nathanael, Jesus said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Fig trees were places of quiet meditation and study in Israel. Nathanael had been seeking God, and Jesus saw him. This recognition led Nathanael to immediately declare, "You are the Son of God!"
Then there's Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. In that culture, climbing trees was undignified, especially for men. But Zacchaeus's desire to see Jesus overcame his concern for appearances. Jesus surprised him: "Zacchaeus, I'm coming to your house today." One encounter with Jesus transformed his life completely.
The Two Trees That Changed Everything
In Eden, God gave Adam one command: "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17).
One rule. One tree to avoid. Yet the tree of life was available to them as long as they remained obedient and in relationship with God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God prevented them from accessing the tree of life. If they had eaten from it after sinning, their fallen state would have become permanent, and redemption would have been impossible.
But God had a better plan.
The Tree of Death That Brought Life
Jesus spoke of His coming crucifixion: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32-33). The book of Acts describes it plainly: God raised up Jesus "whom you murdered by hanging on a tree" (Acts 5:30).
The cross—a tree—became the instrument of humanity's redemption. What Satan meant for destruction, God used for salvation. The crowds who shouted "Hosanna!" one day cried "Crucify Him!" days later. They thought they were ending His influence. Instead, they were fulfilling God's eternal plan.
From that guarded tomb, sealed with Rome's authority, Jesus rose victorious. The tree of death became the pathway to eternal life.
The Promise of the Tree of Life
John's revelation brings us full circle. In the new Jerusalem, he sees "a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-3).
The tree of life, once guarded by flaming swords, is now accessible to all who come through Christ. It produces different fruit each month—abundant provision forever. Its leaves bring healing to the nations.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). We cannot produce spiritual fruit disconnected from Christ. Our fruitfulness depends entirely on remaining connected to Him—not just on Sundays, but daily, moment by moment.
The evergreen trees we display during Christmas symbolize everlasting life. They remind us that God preserved humanity's future by preventing access to the tree of life after sin entered the world. Jesus came to correct what went wrong in Eden. Born in humility, He lived perfectly, died sacrificially on a tree, and rose triumphantly to complete our redemption.
We don't earn this gift through perfection. We receive it through faith in the One who hung on a tree for us. From Genesis to Revelation, from the first tree to the last, God's message is clear: He has made a way for us to live with Him forever.
That's worth celebrating.
From the very first pages of Scripture to its final chapter, trees stand as silent witnesses to God's unfolding plan for humanity. They're not mere background scenery in the biblical narrative—they're central characters in the greatest story ever told.
In the Beginning: God's First Creation
Before the sun and moon illuminated the sky, before stars twinkled in the darkness, God said, "Let there be trees." Genesis records that God created vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
This wasn't random. The placement of trees at creation's dawn signals something profound: God wanted to emphasize their importance throughout the entire biblical story. When God refers to wisdom in Proverbs 3:18, He calls it "a tree of life to those who take hold of her."
Trees as Symbols of Spiritual Life
The prophet Jeremiah paints a beautiful picture of what it means to trust in God: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
This imagery is powerful. A tree planted by water doesn't just survive—it thrives. Its roots go deep, finding sustenance even in difficult seasons. When drought comes, it remains green and continues producing fruit. This is the life God offers those who remain connected to Him.
Miraculous Trees Throughout Scripture
The Bible is filled with remarkable stories involving trees. When Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness and they found only bitter water at Marah, God instructed Moses to cut down a tree and throw it into the water. The water became sweet. Significantly, this was a test, and God declared: "I am the Lord who heals you."
When Elisha's students were building a larger dwelling and lost a borrowed axe head in the murky Jordan River, Elisha cut a branch from a tree and threw it in the water. The iron axe head floated—an impossible miracle made possible by God.
Isaiah prophesied about trees growing in the desert—cedar, acacia, myrtle, cypress, pine—all thriving where they shouldn't exist. Why? "That they may see and know and consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this" (Isaiah 41:19-20).
Jesus and the Trees
Jesus' ministry is punctuated with tree encounters. When He first called Nathanael, Jesus said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Fig trees were places of quiet meditation and study in Israel. Nathanael had been seeking God, and Jesus saw him. This recognition led Nathanael to immediately declare, "You are the Son of God!"
Then there's Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. In that culture, climbing trees was undignified, especially for men. But Zacchaeus's desire to see Jesus overcame his concern for appearances. Jesus surprised him: "Zacchaeus, I'm coming to your house today." One encounter with Jesus transformed his life completely.
The Two Trees That Changed Everything
In Eden, God gave Adam one command: "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17).
One rule. One tree to avoid. Yet the tree of life was available to them as long as they remained obedient and in relationship with God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God prevented them from accessing the tree of life. If they had eaten from it after sinning, their fallen state would have become permanent, and redemption would have been impossible.
But God had a better plan.
The Tree of Death That Brought Life
Jesus spoke of His coming crucifixion: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32-33). The book of Acts describes it plainly: God raised up Jesus "whom you murdered by hanging on a tree" (Acts 5:30).
The cross—a tree—became the instrument of humanity's redemption. What Satan meant for destruction, God used for salvation. The crowds who shouted "Hosanna!" one day cried "Crucify Him!" days later. They thought they were ending His influence. Instead, they were fulfilling God's eternal plan.
From that guarded tomb, sealed with Rome's authority, Jesus rose victorious. The tree of death became the pathway to eternal life.
The Promise of the Tree of Life
John's revelation brings us full circle. In the new Jerusalem, he sees "a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-3).
The tree of life, once guarded by flaming swords, is now accessible to all who come through Christ. It produces different fruit each month—abundant provision forever. Its leaves bring healing to the nations.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). We cannot produce spiritual fruit disconnected from Christ. Our fruitfulness depends entirely on remaining connected to Him—not just on Sundays, but daily, moment by moment.
The evergreen trees we display during Christmas symbolize everlasting life. They remind us that God preserved humanity's future by preventing access to the tree of life after sin entered the world. Jesus came to correct what went wrong in Eden. Born in humility, He lived perfectly, died sacrificially on a tree, and rose triumphantly to complete our redemption.
We don't earn this gift through perfection. We receive it through faith in the One who hung on a tree for us. From Genesis to Revelation, from the first tree to the last, God's message is clear: He has made a way for us to live with Him forever.
That's worth celebrating.
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