The Crucifixion And Eden Connection Series

The End is the Beginning Series

The Crucifixion & Eden Connection

Nov. 22, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

I The area where Adam fell is possibly the area where Jesus fell sin.

A In the week leading to the cross, Jesus curses a fig tree. Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry.13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14 He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And His disciples were listening. Mark 11:11-14 (NASB)

1 Immediately after the Triumphal Entry, He goes to Bethany (probably stayed with Mary, Martha, & Lazarus).

a On the way from Bethany, He gets hungry, sees a fig tree with no fruit (wasn’t in season).

aa Some suggest the fig tree is Israel & represents Israel’s unbelief.

bb I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved. Hosea 9:10 (NASB) Judges 9

b Remember, after Adam & Eve sinned they sewed fig leaves together to cover their own nakedness & shame. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Gen 3:7 (NASB)

c Jesus curses the fig tree, & a few days later, He dies on the cross.

aa It’s as if He’s demonstrating that man will no longer be able to hide/cover his sin with an artificial man-made covering.

2 The place where Jesus cursed the tree was less than two miles from Jerusalem (a 20-minute walk).

a The area is to this day known for its fig trees (Bethpage is Aramaic for “fig house”).

aa The area is located next to the Mount of Olives-just east of the Temple Mount/Mount Moriah.

b Near the Mount of Olives and a hill (Hill of the Skull).

B Jesus was crucified in a location called Calvary (And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Luke 23:33 (KJV)), Golgatha (They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew , Golgotha. John 19:17 (NASB)), a.k.a. the “place of a skull.”

1 Catholic/Greek Orthodox place it in the city walls of old Jerusalem.

a 1867, Charles Gordon, hill on the Mount of Olives that looked like a skull.

b Recently, Mount of Olives

c Which is it? More in a minute.

2 Jewish & Christian tradition teach that Adam was buried in this area.

a Jewish tradition stated that Noah took Adam’s skull on the ark with him, later gave it to Shem, who buried it in Salem.

b Early Christian fathers taught that Jesus’ blood ran down the cracks in the rocks & fell on Adam’s skull.

aa Origin (185-253 AD) stated in the 2nd century the Hill of the Skull got its name because Adam’s skull was found there.

bb Interestingly, Medieval/Renaissance artist paint the crucifixion with a skull at the base of the cross (Fra Angelico painting).

3 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 1 Cor 15:45 (NASB)

a According to early church tradition, the first Adam was buried in Jerusalem at the same place where the “last Adam” was crucified, died, & was buried.

b I wouldn’t be surprised (patterns/types) if Adam was buried where Jesus was crucified-Jerusalem!

C After Jerusalem became the capital of ancient Israel & the temple was built, the priests would sacrifice a red heifer on the Mount of Olives (half way).

1 "This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ’Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.3 ’You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence.4 ’Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.5 ’Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned.6 ’The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.7 ’The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening. Num 19:2-7 (NASB) The red heifer is a picture of Calvary.