Two Important gardens

Spring time is just around the corner and things are beginning to green up around here in mid-Missouri.  Plus it's almost Easter, and I've been thinking a lot about gardens.  There are two grand gardens in the Bible.  The first is Eden from the Genesis account and the second is Gethsemane in the story of Jesus' passion.  Both gardens represent two choices we all face in life-the choice to obey or the choice to go our own way.

When I think of a garden, I think of a solitary place full of streams (that means lots of fishing), lush vegetation, and lots of fruit to eat.  Most gardens would make a nice place for a resort, that's why the first garden was called "paradise."  Eden was a beautiful place of God's provision--it was home to Adam and Eve, a special place meant to be enjoyed.  Sadly, Eden became "paradise lost" because  Adam and Eve failed to believe God and trust in his words.

I don't know that much about the Garden of Gethsemane, except that it was not far from Jerusalem and it was a garden full of olive trees.   Many scholars believe that Jesus probably went there often to pray.  So it must have been a place of relaxation, reflection, and refreshment.  Just as a side note-do you have a place where you go to relax, reflex, and refresh?  For some of you that might be a solitary place, a church gathering with lots of people, or a special time with your spouse or friend.  I don't know what your garden looks like, but make sure you have such a place in your life.  God designed us for the garden and the garden for us.

Jesus' garden of Gethsemane is significant because it is the place where he chose to fulfill God's will rather than reject God's way as Adam and Eve had done in Eden.  I'm sure Jesus had found Gethsemane a retreat of sorts on many occasions, but on that night when he was arrested it was a place of decision.

Jesus had gone to the garden to pray and he asked his inner circle to pray with him (Mt 26:37).  Jesus was faced with a choice and he faced his choice in a moment of prayer.  Like so many of us, he had come to a fork in the road.  Would he follow God's path for his life or pursue other options?  Jesus understood the seriousness of God's plan--that's what made it so difficult.  He understood the meaning of his crucifixion, even before he was hanging on the cross.  So he asked the Father to take away this "cup" (Mt 26:42)  The cup represented  the cross.  

So often in life we are faced with a fork in the road.  Like Jesus, we wonder "is there another way?"  Many roads promise happiness and demand our attention, but only the path which honors God and fulfills his way for our lives will bring true happiness in the end.  Jesus chose God's way as the only way to happiness.  As a result we have the promise of "paradise lost" restored to us.  

So remember no matter how hard or difficult God's way my seem at first, it's the only path that leads to paradise.  Thanks to Jesus we can enjoy the garden of Eden again as we choose to follow the example of Christ.

Have a great day.  Tom Ragsdell