The Discovery of Genesis (78 page)

Now we move to Calvary. A cross —
a tree
was erected with Jesus nailed to it. This was the Man known by the multitudes for His miracles and teachings; envied by His brothers for His virtue; loved by His followers for His wise, kind, and gentle manner; hated by the priests for His authority, which was interpreted as blasphemy when He said, “Your sins are forgiven,” and for His claim to be the Son of God.

The very elements of nature could not endure seeing God’s Son so cruelly treated. The day became mysteriously dark and ominous. When He breathed His last, He expressed it in the words: “It is finished!” and He committed Himself into His Father’s hands. Not believing He was already dead, a Roman soldier pierced His side, and there came out blood and water. THE SACRIFICE OF THE AGES WAS COMPLETE. The Seed of the Woman had been bruised. The unblemished
Lamb
of God had given His divine life for all — the Bread was broken, and there was more than enough for everyone. The
Water of Life
had gushed out “for with Thee is the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:9).
The Cross of Calvary had become the Tree of Life to all who would partake
!

These three figures: the
tree
the
lamb
, and
eternal
(
water
) are united into one glorious character meaning
example, pattern
What more appropriate, complete, and meaningful symbolism could be used to portray our great Exemplar? It would seem that the ancient Chinese sage was truly inspired to draw together these completely symbolic figures and produce a totally meaningful character. He surely appears to have been thinking God’s thoughts after Him!

But the story is hardly finished, for in Revelation 21, we find a tremendous event yet to take place. The Holy City of God, adorned as a bride for her husband (remember the garden as a bride in the Song of Solomon), will descend to the new earth. We read in many scriptures that the earth will again be cleansed from iniquity, not by water but by fire. This is preceded by the mighty, visible, second advent of Jesus to redeem the faithful from this earth. Then they, with Christ, will return in the Holy City (Revelation 21:1–6) to the new earth, which will be created following the destructive fire. “The heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. … The heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:7, 12, 13). Eden will once more become the meeting place of man with God, this time at His throne in the center of the Holy City.