Eating from the Tree of Life
Exploring the Garden of Eden
I’m continuing to learn that the Eden story is bigger than the debates about human origins. While those debates are interesting and important, my focus has shifted to exploring the wisdom and beautiful portrait that the Eden story presents. Within the story, we hear about these two special trees: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad and the Tree of Life.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.1
Then God later gives a restriction regarding one of these trees:
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”2
Notice that God gives the human access to every tree in the Garden — except one. That seems to imply that the human can eat from the Tree of Life! But what’s so special about this tree?
According to Genesis 3:22, the Tree of Life allows humans to “live forever.” In other words, eating from this tree grants one eternal life. The tree symbolizes the eternal one who wants to share his divine life with humanity. Also, standing close to this tree represents proximity to God’s presence.
Throughout the Scriptures, the Tree of Life becomes a motif for eternal life, divine presence, and more. Let’s explore where this motif streams throughout the Scriptures.
A Tree-Bush on Fire
As Moses was minding his business, tending to his father-in-law’s flock, he arrived at Horeb, a.k.a. “the mountain of God,” and encountered the eternal one.
2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.3
Moses sees a spiritual being in the enflamed bush—an angel, a messenger. But this being is not an ordinary angel—it’s the angel of the Lord, with emphasis on “the.” Whenever this being appears in the biblical story, many scholars claim that it is God himself.
Interestingly, as Moses approaches the bush, the text says that God calls to Moses from within the bush and informs him that he’s now standing on holy ground.
We will see some similarities if we compare this scene to the Eden setting. After the humans rebel in the Garden, the Tree of Life is guarded by spiritual beings called “cherubim” with a flaming sword. Tree, spiritual beings, and fire. In Exodus 3, Moses encounters a spiritual being at a tree-bush that’s on fire. The closer one gets to the Tree of Life, the closer one is to God’s divine presence. As Moses gets closer to the burning bush, he gets closer to the holy ground because God is present.
Not convinced? Well, let’s look at the menorah in the Tabernacle (and later Temple).
A Burning Tree of Gold
After God liberates the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, he gives them instructions to build a tabernacle that he will dwell in among the people. Within the Tabernacle, there would be some furnishings, one being the menorah.
31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.4
The menorah is gold, with six “branches” that extend from the center. It holds seven candle lamps lit daily in the Tabernacle, where God’s manifest presence resides. It’s not a coincidence that the menorah has “branches” because it was intended to look like a tree. It’s a symbolic “tree” on fire in the place where the Israelites encountered the Most High spiritual being and his presence. Still not convinced?
Let’s turn to the one who became flesh and “tabernacled” among us.
The True Vine
As Jesus was having his last meal with his disciples, he told them:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.5
Right out the gate, Jesus claims to be the “true vine” — the imagery is that of a tree. AND he claims that the Father is the gardener. Somebody talk to me. Through Jesus, God the Father is curating a new Edenic world. Jesus states that his followers are “branches” that will bear fruit as they are attached to him.
Earlier in the Gospel according to John, Jesus claims to be the vehicle to eternal life for those who trust in him. Combining those claims with Jesus’ claim to be the true vine shows that Jesus is painted as the true Tree of Life. When we participate in the Eucharist (communion), we are eating and drinking from the Tree of Life himself.
Not only that, but Jesus invites us to abide in him and become a part of the Tree of Life as his “branches.” Wherever we go, we get to function as little trees of life that help to contribute to the flourishing of those around us in the little pockets of Eden that God forms in our daily lives.
So, we have the Most High spiritual being in the flesh, claiming to be the true vine. Unlike the burning tree-bush in Exodus 3, Jesus teaches that withering “branches” will be consumed by fire. Yet, there’s an invitation to be in intimate proximity to him through “abiding.” So, there we have it: Trees, fire, and divine presence and proximity.
And the biblical story ends with a renewed picture of Eden, but on a worldwide scale:
A World of Eden
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.6
Amen.
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Genesis 2:8-9
Genesis 2:16-17
Exodus 3:2-6
Exodus 25:31-40
John 15:1-8
Revelation 22:1-5