Turn of phrase...

I thought this was an interesting study about trees ...

What is the significance of trees in the Bible?  Why did Jesus die on a Tree?

By Matthew Sleeth
Christianity.com

The Romans had many ways to kill people.  Stabbing, stoning, burning, drowning, being torn apart by lions in the Coliseum for sport - these were all accepted means of execution.

But Jesus was killed on the Cross, a tree stripped of roots and branches.  As a Christian, I believe that nothing that happens in the Bible is by accident.  So why did God choose to have Jesus executed on a tree?

1. Trees are mentioned in the Bible more than any living thing other than God and people

There’s a tree on the first page of Genesis, the first Psalm, the first page of the New Testament, and the last page of Revelation.  Whether it is the fall, the flood, or the overthrow of the Pharaoh, every major event in the Bible has a tree marking the spot.

Jesus said He is the true vine and that His Father is the dresser of the garden (John 15:1)

The Bible refers to itself as a Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:18)

We are told to be like trees planted by streams of water that yield their fruit in season (Psalm 1:3)

Trees are the oldest living things on earth.  There are tres alive today that were already ancient in the time of Christ. In fact, God gives trees a ring to mark every birthday!

God Is always trying to teach humans to think long-term.  Trees can live as long as 10,000 years.  Living just three score and ten years, we get blinded by short-term gain and lose sight of eternity.  God wants us to see the forest and the trees.

2 Every major character has a tree associated with it

Noah received the olive branch (Genesis 8:11)
Abraham sat under the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1)
Moses stood barefoot in front of the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-5)
At a glance, Joseph might appear to be an exception, but the Bible tells us that Joseph simply is a tree (Genesis 49:22)

The same pattern holds true in the New Testament

Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-4)

The blind man saw people as if they were trees walking (Mark 8:24)

The disciples gathered on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39)

The apostle Paul asserted that if we have gone for a walk in the woods we are without excuse for knowing God (Romans 1:20).  Paul also wrote that Christians are like branches grafted into Israel’s tree trunk, with roots that help us stand fast and firm no matter what troubles come our way (Romans 11:17-18

3. Jesus died on a tree because it was prophesied in the Old Testament

But what about Jesus?  The only physical description of Christ says that He looks like a small plant or tree (Isaiah 53:2).  He grew up in a carpenter’s home.  He talked about seeds of faith and said that the kingdom of heaven was like a tree.  He called disciples from under trees, and sinners from their branches.  His favorite place to pray was in the olive grove.  The only thing He ever harmed was a tree, and the only thing that could harm Him was a tree.

From the moment Christ was born, people tried to kill Him.  They tried to stab Him, stone Him, and throw Him off a cliff.  But it didn’t work. He could go forty days without eating and there was no point in trying to drown Him ...He’d just walk away.  No, the only thing that could kill Jesus was a tree.  Why?  Because He who dies on a tree is cursed, not He who was stabbed, stoned, or starved (Deut 21:23).

In sum, Jesus died on a tree so that we wouldn’t have to (Galatians 3:13)

4.  Trees, like Jesus, give rather than take

Jesus on the cross is not a pretty sight.  So why did God use a tree?  I think one reason is that Jesus never took; He only gave.  He never owned a house, and the only animal He ever rode was borrowed.  He could have dressed like King Solomon, but He is only recorded to have owned one coat.

In many ways trees are like Jesus.  They give, and they keep giving. They give life and beauty.  They give shade and rest.  They clean the air.  They hold back erosion.  They offer shelter, food and protection.  The worse possible thing to use a tree for is to kill someone.  A crucifix is a picture of how low humanity can sink, and how far God will go to rescue us.

Symbolism of the Tree

3 days after Jesus was crucified and buried.  Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to pay her respects.  The tomb was empty.  With her eyes burning from crying for days, Mary turned and saw Jesus.  But she did not recognize Him as Jesus.  She thought He was the gardener (John 20:14-16). This was no mistake.  Jesus is the Gardener.  He is the new Adam (Romans 5:12-18), come to dress and keep the garden, not to destroy and plunder it.  Adam tore the leaves off the fig.  Jesus would not even bruise a reed (Isaiah 42:3).    The symbol of Jesus being lifted up on a tree is the only one that the Bible offers as a door to the eternal.  As Jesus said, “And I, when I AM lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)  Through the Messiah’s death, we are offered life. Through His sacrifice, our sin is forgiven. None of this works without a tree.

Bible verses about Trees

I (Jesus) am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener (John 15:1)

She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed (Proverbs 3:18)

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatsoever they do prospers (Psalm 1:3)

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of a dry ground.  He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. (Isaiah 53:2)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13)

- Fair Use -

Thank you Geri for an interesting post.  I liked it.  And this comment doesn't destroy the message, but the statement was made, "Trees can live as long as 10,000 years."  Hmmmm...

Adam and Eve were created 6,000 years ago, so color me skeptical about the origin of this ten thousand year claim.   :unsure: 🙁 :scratch:

I love trees!  Thank you for the article.

I just planted one yesterday.  An Empress tree.  It is invasive in the Southern USA but not up here.  Such a cute, fuzzy little tree.  ^^ Only a foot tall now but I'm sure it has big plans. 

Dan, good question about the 10,000 year old trees vs Adam and Eve were only on the earth about 6,000 years ago. My thoughts are perhaps the Lord brought down the trees from heaven’s garden to the earthly Garden of Eden? :unsure:  They seemed to be mature trees since they already contained fruit on them.

Genesis 2:7-9

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

————

Then after man failed the obedience test ... He brought the Tree of Life back up to heaven ... or are their 2 Tree of Life’s?   :unsure:

Genesis 3:23-24

Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation 22:2

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

False dating of trees just like fossils is not the point.  Remembering all the great references to trees, I thought this metaphor interesting.
TR

“About the blind man seeing men as trees” ...

After reading the passage of Mark 8:21-26 I noticed it was the blind man’s friends who actually brought him to Christ and they were the ones who asked for the Lord to heal him.  The blind man didn’t ask this request and perhaps he didn’t have full faith at first, but his friends sure did.  So with this blind man’s weak faith ... the Lord didn’t instantly fully heal him at first he only received a partial restoration.  And the Lord used a process to get the blind man to that total 100% belief status.  We see Jesus first applied spit to the blind man’s eyes and then laid hands on him, that is when the blind man saw men as trees walking.  Then Jesus put His hands again on the blind man’s eyes and said to “look up” and then his sight was fully restored.  Perhaps the blind man had his focus on humans and until he looked up to God for healing, then he received the miracle healing?

Mark 8:21- 26

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

All the trees shall rejoice before the Lord!

So also will men.

TR

Here is a good article that explains the medical phenomenon behind it.

Naturally there is a spiritual application that has been touched upon in this thread already.

Definitely a weird and wonderful story.

https://creation.com/walking-trees

Trees are in the Bible Codes.  I think they are very important to God.