Between 2 Trees The Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil

Easter Series: “Between Two Trees”

Video Introduction: Good Friday Video

Introduction:

The Tale of Two Trees is found in the Bible we see two trees singled out in the Garden of Eden in Genesis and again in Revelation at the end of time we see one of the trees again – so in the beginning and in the end of time we discover a tale of two trees. Between these two trees is a lot of time – a lot of wasted time – a lot of sin – a lot of evil – a lot of disobedience to God and His Word - a lot of redemption through blood sacrifice of animals and then Jesus emerges on the scene in between these two trees’ stories – He redeems what was lost at the disobedience of Adam and Eve with One tree – Jesus chooses to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin – So Jesus was crucified, beaten, whipped, scorned and tortured for our acts of disobedience to God on a cross or as some say one a tree – He suffered because of your sin and my sin – He was nailed to a tree the cross – so that what was lost by Adam and Eve at the tree of Knowledge of Good and evil could be restored through this other dead tree. His death opens the door for us, so we can partake of another tree which was also found in the Garden of Eden and according to God’s Word tells us it reappears in the Book of Revelation in Heaven – this tree is the Tree of Life.

So, we discover in The Bible a story of 2 Tree’s – 2 Choices – 2 directions - a lot of wasted time between the two trees - a lot of sin between the 2 trees -- but also a selfless act of ultimate love from God to us in the crucifixion of Jesus. This act of love – a violent act by mankind sets us up to be restored to God the Father and to partake of The Tree Of Life.

RENÉE LAREAU MAKES THIS OBSERVATION (ALONG WITH MY ADDITIONS TO HER THOUGHTS) ABOUT WHY WE ARE MEETING THIS FRIDAY AND WHY THIS DAY SHOULD BE A SOLEMN DAY:

The events of Good Friday are violent, to put it mildly. The crucifixion of Jesus and all the events leading up to it are disturbingly violent, ugly, noisy, and bloody. John’s Gospel account of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion (traditionally read at services on Good Friday) is filled with images of the screaming crowds (“Crucify Him”), the betrayal of friends, the tearing of garments (and flesh,) and a controversial, heated (out of control trial.) The whole day encompasses one disturbing event after another with enough violence to fill an Arnold Schwarzenegger film. (So why do so many churches approach this day with Silence amid violence?) Renee states, “I always find it so interesting that people often commemorate the events of this disturbing, chaotic, violent day with silence. Houses of worship are never so quiet as they are on Good Friday. Silence is in the air, it seems. Many services begin with complete and utter quiet, and a disturbing hush falls over all who have come to contemplate the crucifixion.”

TONIGHT, I WANT US TO PONDER AND REFLECT THE PRICE AND THE SUFFERRING JESUS PAID ON THAT CROSS FOR OUR SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD AND UNDERSTAND HOW HORRIBLE IT WAS FOR JESUS. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO PLACE OURSELVES INTO THE STORIES OF THE BIBLE TO TRULY RECEIVE WISDOM AND REVELATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. LET’S DO THAT TONIGHT.

Thesis for series: The tale of two trees starts in Creation and ends with a picture of Heaven in the end times. One tree started out looking good – it promised knowledge and the ability to be like God – but this knowledge came from experiencing evil resulted in death not life – it resulted in millions of acts of sin, hurt, death, torture and horror – it set a wave of murder and evil loose within the life of mankind. The desirable and lip smacking tree turned to a tree of death and anguish. But within this Garden of Eden we have another tree’s story being told. It is The Tree of Life which because of Adam and Eve’s sin we get banished from it but through Jesus we get to eat of it and it will offer life not death, healing not hurt, peace not war, love not hate and it will give us good not evil for eternity. But we get to choose which tree we want to feast on? Which one have you chosen?

Sermon 1: Good Friday: “The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil.”