The Tree That Can Set You Free!

The greatest story ever told doesn’t begin, ‘Once upon a time.’ It begins, ‘Once upon a tree.’” I heard that ear-grabbing statement nearly 45 years ago from Irish preacher Jim McGuiggan, and like an annular nail driven into a piece of hard oak, they have stuck fast in my head and heart throughout the years. McGuggian was referring of course to the fact that Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins. The image of the cross as a tree is a very Biblical one. Let me cite one passage and note a few others.

In Galatians 3:13-14 we read these amazing words: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” The apostle’s reference to one who hangs on a “tree” is from Deuteronomy 21:22-23. In that passage the Law of Moses legislated that the body of one who was stoned for a capital offense, that is “a sin deserving of death” (verse 22) would be hung up on a tree as evidence that “he who is hanged is accursed of God” (verse 23).

New Testament images of the cross as a “tree” can be found not only in Galatians 3:13, but also at Acts 5:30 * Acts 10:39 * Acts 13:29 * 1 Peter 2:24. The 1 Peter 2:24 passage is specific that Christ “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree ... by whose stripes we were healed.” The verse also calls Christians in response to this to die to sin and live for righteousness. This passage provides what amounts to inspired commentary and keen insight on the apostle Paul’s declaration in Galatians 3:13 that Christ has “redeemed us from the curse of the law.”

We don’t stone people for sinning these days, but that doesn’t mean the penalty of death has been lessened, for God’s word still declares “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a), that is estrangement and separation from God in hell (Isaiah 59:1-2). This is the “curse of the law” Paul mentions in Galatians 3:13. From that estrangement and from that curse, Paul claims Christ has “redeemed” us, that is (we don’t have space to study it out), paid the price / cost to buy us back and set us free the guilt and condemnation of sin (see Acts 20:28 * 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 * 1 Peter 1:18-19 * Ephesians 1:7). How did He do that? Paul is blunt: He “became a curse for us” and gave His life for us.

We’ve only skimmed the surface here. But you don’t have to be a trained theologian to understand that, whatever the more technical nuances and meanings of words in these verses may be, one truth is crystal clear — God is dying to save you! I read a story (fictional but helpful) about a young man, twice-convicted for a lesser offense, on trial for yet a third time for murder. Terror washed over him as he surveyed the jury in the courthouse. Positive he’d never beat the murder rap, he managed to get a message to one of the kinder-looking jurors & bribed her with a large amount of cash through an anonymous person, asking her to go for a manslaughter verdict. Sure enough, at the end of the trial the jury convicted him of the lesser charge, saving him from the death penalty. Tears of gratitude spilled from his eyes, and he managed a moment with the juror before being led away to serve 20 years in prison. “Thank you, thank you, thank you — how did you ever pull it off?” The juror admitted, “It wasn’t easy. The rest of them wanted to acquit you.” That’s what Christ wants to do for you!  Praise God for the tree that can set you free!  (see Galatians 3:26-29.

    by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN