The Tree of Life and Christ

Have you heard of the ‘Tree of Life’? No, it is not the film starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn.

In the garden of Eden, there is the tree of life, which could remedy the death situation Adam and Eve landed themselves in. While this anecdote remains a parable and even a myth to many, the tree of life is actually a shadow of the salvation God has prepared for mankind. None of us can escape the claws of death. To find the solution to this problem, let us first trace the origin of death.

Matthew 13:34-35 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Jesus said that there are things hidden in parables since the creation of the world. It is only the book of Genesis that narrates the scene of God’s creation of the world.

Origin of Death

Genesis 2:9 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 evil.

There were many trees in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived, which fruits they were allowed to eat with an exception – the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God gave them this command; never to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

If Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God said that they will certainly die. However, Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent and violated this commandment of God by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6-7). This is the origin of death. Henceforth, human beings were bound to die (Romans 5:12). Then, is there a solution to death just as in the garden of Eden?

Tree of Life

Genesis 3:22-24 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

In the Garden of Eden, there was also the tree of life. Though having sinned, if Adam and Eve were to eat from the fruit of the tree of life, they could live forever. Those who sinned will not face death but be granted eternal life if they ate the fruit from the tree of life. However, God blocked the way to it with cherubim (angels) and flaming sword.

God blocked the way to the tree of life and only God has the Authority to open the way to it.

As the tree of life in Genesis is a parable, we need to find out the reality of the tree of life.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus explained that his purpose was to bring life to mankind. This means that the way to the tree of life will be opened again. Let us find out how Jesus opened the way of life for mankind; this is the reality of the tree of life.

Passover of the New Covenant

John 6:53-54 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Jesus said that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life. Jesus’ flesh and blood is the reality of the tree of life. How can we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood? On the night before Jesus was crucified, He explained this.

Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” … The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover… While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus declared that the Passover bread was His body, and the Passover wine was His blood. Thus, the reality of the tree of life is the Passover of the new covenant. As God is the only one who can open the way to the tree of life, God came as a man in Jesus Christ to open the way of life for mankind.

Second Coming Christ

In A.D. 325, the truth of the Passover was abolished through the Council of Nicaea and the knowledge of this truth gradually disappeared (see Passover: Changed in History for more details). As such, the way to eternal life was lost once again. It is only God Himself who can restore the way to the tree of life.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The Bible prophesied that Christ will appear a second time to bring salvation. For mankind to receive salvation, they need the reality of the tree of life, which is the Passover of the new covenant. Christ must come again just as He did the first time in order to restore the truth of the Passover.

Christ Ahnsahnghong restored the Passover and started to preach from 1948. Before this, the truth of the Passover was not kept on the earth for a long time since its abolishment. Christ Ahnsahnghong is the Second Coming Christ who has appeared according to the prophecies of the Bible. He fulfills the purpose of bringing salvation by restoring the truth of the Passover. Please visit the World Mission Society Church of God to receive the truth that leads to salvation!