God Soothes Our Greatest Fear With A Better Tree - Made to Tremble: Finding Awe in Your Anxiety

“The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.” (Acts 5:30, NLT)

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, NLT)

There is another detail in the story of the Fall that we should not miss, and that’s the presence of a tree. The tree from which Adam and Eve ate was a forbidden tree. Through their interaction with this tree, they ushered in sin, suffering, and death.

Through a better tree—the tree at Calvary that was fashioned into a cross—Jesus died to bring salvation, sanctification, and life. Calvary was where “the God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree.”^a And what did He do on that tree? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.”^b At a tree, Adam committed sin in his body. On a better tree, Jesus who did not know sin became sin for us. A tree was the vehicle for sin’s arrival, and it is the vehicle for its removal.

Let us not miss a final contrast between the two trees: We mentioned the hiding that came with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, along with the attempt to cover up. However, Jesus was nailed to Calvary’s tree completely exposed, naked, showing His complete vulnerability and willingness to bear our shame.

Ultimately, God removes the worst effects of the Fall in this way: The tree Adam ate from opened mankind’s eyes to evil. The tree Jesus died on opened mankind’s eyes to good. Adam’s tree ushered in death, and Jesus’ tree ushered in eternal life. Adam’s tree was where mankind’s penalty for sin started. Jesus’ tree is where mankind’s penalty for sin was paid in full. Adam’s tree is forbidden and leads to separation from God, but at Jesus’ tree, all are welcome to come and receive right standing with God.

God takes details of the Fall—even down to a tree—and redeems them so that we might be covered, safe, and welcomed in His eternal kingdom.