Popular Christian author Max Lucado makes the following insightful comment concerning the two most consequential gardens in human history: “The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and Gethsemane. In the first, Adam took a fall. In the second, Jesus took a stand. In the first, God sought Adam. In the second, Jesus sought God. In Eden, Adam hid from God. In Gethsemane, Jesus emerged from the tomb. In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death. From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.”1
The contrasts could not be more startling and the outcomes more opposite. In both Eden and Gethsemane one man was responsible for eternal outcomes. Adam’s sin in Eden caused man to be eternally separated from God, while Christ’s perfect righteousness in Gethsemane made it possible for eternal restoration for all those who place their trust in Jesus.
In Eden, succumbing to sin, led one man, Adam, to disobey God resulting in catastrophic consequences for all of mankind. In Gethsemane, Jesus’ triumph over sin, brought with it eternal blessings for all who would believe in Him.
And in Eden, Adam’s actions caused him, and all of mankind, to forfeit access to the tree of life. But praise God, in Gethsemane, Jesus’ actions led to regained access to the tree of life to all who place their trust in Him, for we read: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7).
In Eden man fell, but in Gethsemane, Deity triumphed! In Eden man lost paradise, but in Gethsemane, Deity found a way back to paradise. And in Eden, man spiritually separated himself from God, but in Gethsemane Deity brought man and God back together, through Christ’s atoning work at Calvary!
My friends, I leave you with the closing words from Max Lucado’s above quote for you to meditate on: “In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death. From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.”