The Messiah Mystery: A Lent Study预览

Clues in the Garden

Believe it or not, the first clues about the Messiah are found at the beginning of time—in the Garden of Eden. 

The experience of the garden must have been nothing short of spectacular for Adam and Eve. But far better than any smell, taste, or sight was being in the presence of God, their creator. You see, one of the reasons God created Adam and Eve was to have a friendship with them. He tells us He made them in His image.

This is how life was meant to be. The garden was perfect because God was there. His presence and nearness is what made it good.

But Adam and Eve disobeyed. They believed the lie of the serpent—that God was withholding something good from them, that God didn’t love them.  Have you ever believed this lie? We all have.

Because God is both perfect love and perfect justice, He must correct His children’s disobedience. And like any honorable king, God must also respond to evil. His discipline to Adam and Eve was the gift of pain, so that they wouldn’t forget what they did wrong.

At the same time, He shows His deep love by giving them a promise. Genesis 3:15 prophesies, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This is God’s very first clue. “He shall bruise your head” points to Jesus, the Messiah will someday defeat Satan and win His children back.  In the very moment when paradise is lost, God offers us comfort and hope.

As you ready your heart for Easter, thank God for His love. Even in the first time that people didn’t trust Him and His character, He was already planning to send His Son to die so that we could be with Him again. He was already planning His merciful rescue of a hurting world.

Offer this prayer of praise:

Father, thank you that you were not caught off guard by Adam and Eve’s disobedience. You had a plan in place from the very beginning, before the world even began. Because you loved them and you love us, you prepared a way for us to come back to you, to know you, and to live with you forever. We stand in awe of you.