If you’re like me, you may never have noticed the emphasis on gardens in the Bible. But if you take a moment and really think about it, you’ll recognize that things of utmost importance happened in gardens.
Of course we’re all aware of the Garden of Eden, where life began . . . and sin began . . .
“now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” ~Genesis 2:8
“but God did say, you must not eat fruit from that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it or you will die.” ~Genesis 3:3
I found more than 60 other references to gardens throughout the Old and New Testaments . . .
“he is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading his shoots over the garden.” ~Job 8:16
“you are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.” ~Song of Solomon 4:15
“it is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.” ~Luke 13:19
Gardens were very important to Jesus . . .
“when he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. ~John 18:1
“at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ~John 19:41
So it seems fitting that, during Holy Week, we would spend some time in the garden ourselves . . .
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
