Year of the Bible: Part Nine of TwelveSample

Water, a Tree, and a Garden

The Book of Genesis describes rivers of water flowing from the Garden of Eden, where God created Adam and Eve and a Tree of Life. This Garden was a place of exquisite beauty and unmatched innocence. It was there that Adam sinned, bringing death, separation, corruption, and evil.

The water, the wood, and the garden would appear again in the Bible.

Millennia later, there was another tree: a wooden cross. The One crucified on that tree died for you and me—for every sin and evil attitude. This punishment would bring healing to all who believe and lay God’s axe to the root of every destructive power of the enemy. After Jesus died, a Roman soldier pierced His side, out of which flowed blood and water. The blood was shed to ransom every believing child of God back from the power of death, and the water symbolizes the living water that will flow from all who receive God’s Holy Spirit.

Nearby the tree and the blood and water was a tomb in a garden, where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was buried. The first man spiritually died in a garden and introduced death into the world; Jesus died on a tree near a garden tomb to bring us life.

Question: Have you fully embraced what Jesus did for you by receiving your deserved punishment to free you from your sin, shame, and fear of death?

Prayer: Express to God your love and appreciation for how His word speaks the message of good news so vividly! Thank Him for taking your shame, regrets, sins, and bad attitudes. Give Jesus Christ the Lordship of your life and celebrate that, because of His death, you can receive eternal life.