In the beginning, God gave man a project; he was to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth and subduing it (Gen 1.28). To complete this project, man would be dependent upon God to give him gifts along the way. One of the first gifts God gave the man was the woman. She was his helper. His other gifts involved food. There was a multitude of trees that would provide food for man, but there were two special gifts of food in the middle of the Garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The man and his wife were invited to the Tree of Life to eat freely. There God would grant them the gift of life, confirming them in their relationship with him forever. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was forbidden at first but would be granted at a later time. They needed to grow up for a while before they could handle this “strong food” (see Heb 5.11ff.). This food would grant them wisdom and authority to move the dominion project forward. They weren’t ready for this food in the beginning. (For details on this, see Two Trees & A King.)
The man and woman disobeyed, ate from the wrong tree first. Their eyes were opened. God came in the “spirit of the day” to commune with them at the trees and uncovered their sin, pronouncing curse and promise. They were then graciously exiled so that they would not have access to the Tree of Life. Cherubim with flaming swords were stationed at the east entrance of the Garden to guard the Garden (the responsibility originally given to Adam).
God’s intention was not to keep man barred from the Garden forever. He wanted man to draw near to him, to live forever, and grow up to have authority over the creation so as to make it what God intended it to be. The only way for this to happen was for another Adam, a sinless Adam, to endure the flaming swords of the cherubim, eat of the Tree of Life, and then be granted the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil by the Father so that he might have all authority over creation to move it to goal.
Luke’s recording of that first Easter Sunday shows us how Jesus remedied Adam’s sin.
The scene opens with women, helpers, coming to the garden tomb. Jesus isn’t there. He is risen. Two men, whom we later learn are angels (Lk 24.23), are there with “lightning clothes.” They are the cherubim who guard the Garden. Even though they are terrifying to look upon, they are welcoming of the ladies. There is no reason to fear. The faithful Adam has passed through their fire, protecting the woman. Having endured the flame, he was granted the fruit of the Tree of Life. He is risen. He lives. He will live forever, confirmed in his righteous standing with the Father. In his one act of obedience in submitting to death, he secures the forgiveness of sins and access for his bride to the fruit of the Tree of Life.
But the story is not over.
On the same day, two disciples take a trip to Emmaus. One’s name is Cleopas, who may be the Clopas mentioned in John 19.25, the husband of Mary. It is quite possible that this may be a man and his wife on this road. Jesus joins them to walk and talk with them. Their eyes are closed. They don’t know who he is, neither do they understand what has happened over the past few days. Jesus leads them through a Scripture study concerning how Messiah must suffer to enter his glory, his reign as king. Their eyes are still closed. When they arrive at the house, Jesus sits down with them and, with an unmistakable connection to the events of the night of his betrayal, he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. When they receive the food, their eyes are open, not to see their nakedness and be ashamed, but to see and understand Jesus and his work. Jesus gave them the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was time.
But that’s not the end.
Their eyes are opened for a purpose. Jesus has received all authority over creation so that God’s original plan for creation can move forward. The dominion project will move forward now through the proclamation of the gospel that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. They must proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all the nations. Because sins have been forgiven, because sin’s power has been broken through the resurrection, we can now complete what God called us to in the beginning.
From the Garden man was cast
Kept from the Tree of Life;
The flaming swords he shall not pass
Because of his dark vice.
He grasped at wisdom’s vesture
So like God he could be;
Now subject to the serpent
He lives on beastly.
Creation over which he ruled
Is now bowed beneath the curse;
In hope it is subjected,
‘Til God assuage its hurt.
A faithful man takes up the task
To be creation’s king;
He passes through the flaming swords
Enduring sinlessly.
In death he conquers death
Forgiving Adam’s sin;
And eating from the Tree of Life
The world shall live in him.
The Father gives him wisdom’s fruit
He eats it for to reign;
Creation’s King is now enthroned
To free creation’s pain.
In bread and wine he shares
The fruit of both the Trees;
That we may live and reign with him
To see creation free.
