The idea of certain trees possessing the power of knowledge and eternal life was prevalent in many ancient religions. Judaism and Christianity share the imagery of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life having been present in the Garden of Eden. The book of Revelation mentions that the Tree of Life will again be present in the coming city of God at the end of human history.
The difference between Christianity and the other religions is what bridges the beginning and the end. It's what happened in the middle - the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Scripture refers to the cross as a "tree." The fruit of that tree - Jesus' sacrifice - gives life to all who believe.
All of that wasn't exactly going through my mind as I composed this photograph during an early morning walk in Door County, Wisconsin. But the early morning sun emanating from the lone tree on the path before me certainly compelled me to capture that image.
Click on photo to enlarge. Copyright 2005 James Jordan.
No comments:
Post a Comment