The Tree of Life - Lord's Supper Meditation

In the story of creation, there are 2 trees mentioned. We aren’t told much about them, and perhaps the most elusive is the “tree of life”. After Adam & Eve sin, they are removed from the Garden of Eden and out of the presence of God. But Gen. 3 explains that this exile is in part so that they will not also eat from the tree of life and live forever in a perpetual state of sin and removal from God’s presence.

The tree of life comes up in an important way in Revelation as well. It is mentioned as being in the paradise of God. In new creation, the tree of life yields 12 kinds of fruit and its leaves provide healing. It symbolizes the blessing of having unrestricted access to the presence of God and free from the taint of sin.

Some scholars believe that Rev.’s mention of the tree of life could even be a reference to the tree of Calvary where Jesus’ body was broken and blood was poured out on behalf of his people. It was on that tree where the grape juice of Jesus blood was grown and flowed and the leaves that give a tree its body also give healing to the nations.

This morning, as we partake in the Lord’s Supper, let us remember that the tree of life is most fully expressed as a tree of crucifixion. The leaves that provide healing for the nations is Jesus’ broken body, which by his wounds we are healed. The fruit that provides eternal life was plucked and squeezed to produce the juice of Jesus’ blood. Let us remember this morning the Tree of Life as we come to dine at the Lord’s Table this morning.