Thursday, April 12, 2001

 

 Dear Family: 

 

I sent many of you my thoughts about the significances of, "The Tree" at Christmas. Now we are approaching another important day on the calendar. The Passover to the Jews is Easter to the Christians. The reason for the simultaneous celebration is pretty simple. The Jewish people were to sacrifice a lamb each year at Passover with the blood carried by the priest behind the veil into the holy of holies and sprinkle the blood over the mercy seat as atonement for the sins of the Children of Israel. Christ became the sacrificial lamb when he was crucified and the veil of the temple was rent (torn) from top to bottom. When the veil was rent everyone then had direct access to God.

 

Let's look at some of the aspects of the crucifixion of Christ. When God created man he set him in the Garden of Eden and charged him to care for it and to have dominion over all creation and to subdue it. Adam's first test to subdue the creatures was the serpent. Adam only had to "just say no." He already had dominion over the serpent and already was to subdue it. He failed the test and hid himself among the trees and covered his nakedness with the leaves. He was then driven out of the garden.

 

When Christ came to Jerusalem Palm branches were laid before him. When Christ wanted to pray and spend time with God just before he was betrayed, he went to the garden of Gethsemane. It was there that Judas came and betrayed him with a kiss. Christ was crowned with thorns and crucified on a cross made from a tree at a place now known as the garden tomb. I found it ironic that Eve was first to sin and the woman who had been delivered of seven demons, Mary Magdelene who was one of His most avid followers was the first to see him after his resurrection. Eve went from good to bad and had to leave the garden whereas Mary Magdelene went from bad to good and went into the garden. Eve hid from God while Mary went in search of Christ.

This thought points to the importance of simple choices in life. We too, may  choose to hide from God or we may seek him with all our hearts.

 

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