The Link Between Paradise and the Crucifixion | Jonathan Pageau

Summary

This script delves into the symbolic connections between the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and the crucifixion of Christ. It explores how Christ's actions, such as cursing the fig tree, signify the removal of barriers to holiness. The script discusses traditions that link the wood of the Tree of Life to the cross, with the axis representing life and the horizontal beam symbolizing knowledge of good and evil. It also touches on the crucifixion's duality, the crown of thorns, and the imagery of water and blood flowing from Christ's side, representing the culmination of biblical themes. The summary concludes with the final revelation in the Bible, where the Tree of Life stands in a cube, symbolizing the ultimate eschatological unity of all creation.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The script discusses the symbolic connection between the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and the cross of Christ, suggesting a deep theological link between the two.
• 🔒 The thorns outside the garden are symbolic of a protective barrier against hostility, reflecting the need for spiritual protection from the world's adversities.
• 🍀 Saint Ephrem the Syrian is referenced as a source that connects the act of Christ cursing the fig tree to the removal of spiritual coverings, allowing closer access to holy places.
• 🙏 The crucifixion of Christ is depicted as a transformative event where the lowest elements, such as thorns, are elevated to the highest, symbolized by the crown of thorns.
• 🔑 The cross is seen as a culmination of various traditions, potentially made from the wood of the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, embodying both life and moral duality.
• ⚔️ The three crosses at the crucifixion symbolize the centrality of Christ and the duality of good and evil, represented by the thieves on either side of Christ.
• 💧 The script describes the biblical imagery of water and blood flowing from Christ's side, connecting to the life-giving waters of the Garden of Eden.
• 🏞️ Early Christian imagery often depicted the cross with the four rivers of paradise, emphasizing the connection between the crucifixion and the Garden's sacred elements.
• 📖 The final chapters of the Bible are seen as a culmination of all theological concepts, with the Tree of Life at the center of a perfect, eschatological New Jerusalem.
• 🕊️ Christ's death on the cross is viewed as both a fulfillment of the prophecy of death for eating the forbidden fruit and a means of accessing the Tree of Life.
• 🏛️ The tearing of the temple veil signifies Christ's entry into the Holy of Holies, merging the concepts of the Tree of Life and the knowledge of good and evil.

Q & A

What is the significance of thorns mentioned in the script in relation to the Garden of Eden?

The thorns mentioned in the script symbolize the hostile world outside the Garden of Eden, serving as a protective barrier around the Tree of Life, much like the thorns in Saint Ephrem the Syrian's interpretation.

Why did Christ curse the fig tree as per the New Testament?

Christ's cursing of the fig tree is connected to the idea of removing the coverings that keep us from the holy places, similar to the death of Christ splitting the veil in the temple, as explained by Saint Ephrem.

What is the connection between the Tree of Life and the cross of Christ according to the script?

The script suggests that the wood of the Tree of Life or the tree of good and evil was used in various religious artifacts throughout biblical history, eventually becoming the cross itself, symbolizing the convergence of life, death, and redemption.

What do the three crosses in the crucifixion narrative represent?

The three crosses emphasize the centrality and duality of good and evil, with the Good Thief and the Bad Thief representing the two branches of the cross, illustrating the ongoing struggle between these opposing forces.

How does the crown of thorns relate to the concept of the lowest becoming the highest in Christ's crucifixion?

The crown of thorns, originally the lowest and most hostile element outside the Garden, is transformed by Christ into a symbol of the highest honor, signifying his divine kingship and sacrifice.

What is the significance of the water and blood that flowed from Christ's side during the crucifixion?

The water and blood symbolize the life-giving elements that flow out into the world from Christ, connecting to the imagery of the four rivers of paradise and representing the spiritual nourishment and cleansing that comes from his sacrifice.

How is Christ depicted as the culmination of all biblical elements in the script?

Christ is depicted as embodying the Tree of Life, the tree of good and evil, the thorn bush, and the mountain, all converging in his person to represent the fullness of divine mystery and redemption.

What does the veil of the temple being ripped in two signify in the context of the script?

The rending of the veil signifies Christ's access to the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctum representing divine presence, indicating that through his death, the way to divine communion is now open to all.

What is the eschatological manifestation of the Tree of Life in the final chapters of the Bible?

In the eschatological vision, the Tree of Life is found in the center of a cube, representing the ultimate, static form of all that can be revealed, with rivers flowing from it to fill the New Jerusalem, symbolizing eternal life and divine perfection.

How does the script use the imagery of the tree to convey the relationship between Christ and the Garden of Eden?

The script uses the tree imagery to show a deep connection between Christ and the Garden of Eden, suggesting that Christ's crucifixion and resurrection are the ultimate realization and fulfillment of the biblical narrative, from creation to redemption.

What is the role of the axis and the horizontal of the cross in the script's interpretation of biblical symbolism?

The axis of the cross is said to be made from the Tree of Life, and the horizontal part from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representing the union of life and moral discernment in Christ's sacrifice.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Thorns and the Tree of Life in Christian Symbolism

This paragraph delves into the symbolic representation of thorns and trees in Christian theology, drawing from Saint Ephrem the Syrian's interpretation. It discusses the protective thorns around the Garden of Eden and how they symbolize the world's hostility. The narrative connects the cursing of the fig tree by Christ to the removal of spiritual coverings, allowing humanity to approach sacred spaces. The summary also explores the tradition that links the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden to the cross of Christ, suggesting that the wood of the Tree of Life became part of the cross. The paragraph concludes with the imagery of Christ wearing a crown of thorns, transforming the lowest into the highest, and the symbolic significance of the water and blood flowing from his side during crucifixion.

05:01

🛕 Christ as the Unified Symbol of Life and Salvation

The second paragraph continues the discussion of Christ's symbolism, emphasizing his role as the culmination of various biblical elements. It presents Christ as not only the Tree of Life but also the embodiment of good and evil, the mountain, and the water that flows into the world. Early Christian imagery is mentioned, where the cross is depicted with the four rivers of paradise at its base. The paragraph highlights Christ's death on the tree as a fulfillment of God's warning to Adam, granting access to the Tree of Life. The summary touches on the tearing of the temple veil as a sign of Christ's entry into the Holy of Holies. Finally, it envisions the eschatological manifestation of the cosmos with a cube containing the Tree of Life at its center, symbolizing the ultimate unity of all creation from beginning to end.

Keywords

💡Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden represents the biblical paradise from which Adam and Eve were expelled for eating the forbidden fruit. In the video, it symbolizes the origin of humanity's access to knowledge and the dual nature of good and evil, as well as the protective role of thorns around the Tree of Life.

💡Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a recurring motif in religious and mythological contexts, often symbolizing the source of all life and immortality. In the script, it is linked to the cross of Christ, suggesting a connection between the eternal and the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice.

💡Cross of Christ

The cross is the central symbol of Christianity, representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. The script discusses how the cross is related to the Tree of Life and the concept of good and evil, emphasizing its significance in the reconciliation of these dualities.

💡Cursing of the fig tree

In the New Testament, Jesus curses a fig tree that has no fruit, which withers away. The script uses this event to illustrate the power of Christ to remove the 'coverings' that separate humanity from the divine, foreshadowing his role in overcoming death and sin.

💡Thorns

Thorns are mentioned as a protective barrier in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing the world's hostility and the need for divine intervention. In the script, they are connected to the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head during the crucifixion, signifying his transformation of suffering into a divine attribute.

💡Veil of the temple

The veil of the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, is torn at the moment of Christ's death, symbolizing the opening of access to the divine presence. The script uses this to show how Christ's sacrifice allows humanity to enter the 'holy of holies', the Tree of Life.

💡Bronze serpent

The bronze serpent is a biblical reference to an event in the book of Numbers where a serpent on a pole healed the Israelites from snake bites. In the script, it is suggested that the wood from the Tree of Life or the tree of knowledge of good and evil was used to create the bronze serpent, connecting it to the tradition of the cross.

💡Good and Evil

The concepts of good and evil are central to the narrative of the Garden of Eden and are further explored in the script in relation to the cross of Christ. The script discusses how Christ embodies both the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representing the reconciliation of these opposing forces.

💡Crown of Thorns

The crown of thorns is a symbol of Christ's suffering and humiliation during his crucifixion. The script describes how Christ takes the lowest element, the thorns, and transforms them into a symbol of divine authority and kingship, reflecting the theme of elevating the humble.

💡Water and Blood

The script describes the flow of water and blood from Christ's side as he is pierced on the cross, symbolizing the life-giving and purifying elements that flow out to the world. This imagery connects to the biblical narrative and the concept of salvation through Christ's sacrifice.

💡New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem represents the ultimate heavenly city and the culmination of God's kingdom on earth. In the script, it is depicted as a perfect and divinely constructed place, with the Tree of Life at its center, symbolizing the ultimate reconciliation and unity of all things.

Highlights

The concept of thorns outside the Garden of Eden as a protective barrier against hostility.

Saint Ephrem's interpretation of Christ cursing the fig tree as removing the coverings that separate us from holy places.

The connection between the Tree of Life, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the cross of Christ.

Traditions suggesting the wood of the Tree of Life was used to make the staff of Moses and the pillar for the bronze serpent, eventually becoming the cross.

The axis of the cross being made from the Tree of Life and the horizontal part from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The crucifixion narrative emphasizing the centrality and duality of good and evil with the two thieves on either side of Christ.

Christ's crown of thorns symbolizing the transformation of the lowest thing into the highest.

Christ's crucifixion as the convergence of the Tree of Life, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the mountain, and the thorn bush.

The imagery of water and blood flowing from Christ's side during the crucifixion, linking back to the beginning of the Bible.

Early Christian images depicting the cross with the four sources of paradise at its feet.

Christ's death on the cross fulfilling the prophecy of death for eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The tearing of the temple veil symbolizing Christ's access to the Holy of Holies, the Tree of Life.

The final revelation in the Bible of a cube containing the Tree of Life, representing the culmination of all things from beginning to end.

The New Jerusalem envisioned as a perfect city filled with rivers flowing from the Tree of Life.

The eschatological manifestation of all elements from the creation story to the end of the cosmos in a single, unified image.

Transcripts

and so you can imagine now on the

outside of the wall of the garden

outside of the inner holy place you have

these thorns which are to protect the

tree from attack so you have a world of

hostility which is outside the garden

and so the thorns need to be protected

okay so that's let's say the way that

it's presented in Saint Ephrem the

Syrian and so once you see how that

structure comes together you can you can

remember some parts in the Bible which

are surprising to some like for example

when Christ in the New Testament at some

point he curses a fig tree and you think

why is Christ cursing a fig tree well

Saint Ephrem connects Christ's cursing

of the fig tree - let's say taking away

the power of the covering taking away

the power of this covering by which we

are removed from the most of the more

holy places just like the death and the

death of Christ split the veil in the

temple so - in Christ's curses the fig

tree he removes the coverings as he he

brings man closer and closer to the

mysterious unity which is at the summit

of the of the of the mountain okay but

what's really important to see is when

we have to come to Christ you have to

come to Christ and so in the tradition

there are many hints that hints that

help us to link this idea of the trees

in the Garden of Eden with the cross of

Christ now it's already there in the

story for those who can see it but there

are many little traditions that can help

us to make sense of it and help us put

the puzzle together for example there

are traditions which say that the cross

of that the Tree of Life or the tree of

good and evil there are different

traditions on that will the the wood of

that tree will have been taken

to make the staff of Moses will have

been taken to make the pillar for the

bronze serpent and then that piece of

wood would continue down on the line to

finally become the cross itself and our

traditions would say that for example

the axis of the cross was made out of

the Tree of Life and the the horizontal

of the cross was made by with the tree

of the knowledge of good and evil and

you can see in the story of the

crucifixion you have the three crosses

which emphasize this this this

centrality and duality with the Good

Thief on one side of Christ and the bad

thief on the other side of Christ

representing this notion of good and

evil as the two branches of the cross

let's say or three crosses it doesn't

really matter how you see it has this

the same idea of this central thing and

then two things on the side and also in

the story of the crucifixion Christ has

the thorns that thorn bush which was

outside of the garden that thorn bush is

then put on Christ's head when you when

you start to think about the crucifixion

you you use your mind starts to play

tricks on you because that story is very

difficult to understand it's very

difficult to encompass all the mystery

that is contained in the story of the

crucifixion but Christ takes the lowest

thing the lowest thing on on the story

of the mountain these thorns that are

outside to protect them and he changes

them into a crown and so the lowest

becomes the highest and then he is

nailed fixed on to this hierarchy on to

both the Tree of Life

and the

tree of good and evil with the crown of

thorns and then as he is on the cross

the Roman soldier pierces his side and

out of his side comes blood but also

comes water and this water comes down

and the blood comes down and so you have

this crazy image which repeats actually

this story from the beginning of of of

the Bible that Christ on the cross is

not just the Tree of Life not just that

you have good and evil

not just the thorn bush not just a

mountain he's all those things all

together at the same time and he's also

the water which flows down and reaches

out into the world and in early

Christian images they explicitly showed

the cross with the four sources of

paradise at the feet of the cross and so

that's enough said about that but I just

wanted to show you how that image of the

tree in the crucifixion takes up its

highest form and and just and and and

the Christ its relationship to that tree

creates an image which is it's just it

blows your mind you can't really

understand because he also dies on the

tree he also dies on the tree in the way

that God told Adam that he would die if

he eats of that fruit so Christ eats the

fruit of the knowledge of good and evil

and has access then to the Tree of Life

and you can see that that's the case

they showed in the text because when he

dies the the the the veil of the temple

the the veil the Holy of Holies is

ripped into two and so is this idea that

Christ enters into the highest place

eats the fruit of the good and evil like

Shannon says as a way to enter into the

holy of holies which is the tree of life

itself and so finally just to bring

everything together you have to come

toward to the end of the Bible where in

the final revelation of the entire

cosmos you have a cube a cube which is

the final form the state of the static

form of everything that can be revealed

and in the middle of this cube is the

Tree of Life and you can also imagine

this tree of life and and the rivers

flowing out and filling up this New

Jerusalem which is perfect and made of a

perfect material and so there's this

sight this notion of a final

manifestation of everything from the

beginning until the end into one you

know into one impossible but you know

eschatological manifestation