In The Garden

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., | Category: General | Nov 1991

Gardens take on an importance because of what they provide: beauty, colour, variety, tranquillity, and fruitfulness.

Before disaster struck Eden, our first parents must have had the indescribable joy of awakening morning by morning to the peace, fragrance, and unspoiled beauty of a perfect garden. How sad that these blessings of contentment and unique communion with the Lord were lost through one fatal act of disobedience. Eden seems to derive from the root meaning of pleasure, delight, delicacy. Sad to say, paradise lost never became paradise regained on earth.

Gardens are profuse in Scripture. Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard for a garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); Manasseh was buried in the garden of his own house (2 Kings 21:18); Ahaseurus made his garden a place of feasting (Esther 1:5); and Jeremiah speaks of the soul of Israel as being a well watered garden (31:12), to name a few.

There are two gardens prominent in the life of the Lord Jesus. One was Gethsemane, "the oil press", the place of indescribable agony and sorrow for the Son of God, the like of which had not been known before:

Tis midnight, agonized He kneels,

The sweat falls down like drops of blood;

Yet He who such deep anguish feels,

Is not forsaken by His God.

In this garden unworthy hands arrested Him at the signal of an unworthy betrayer. The very ground marked by the blood-like sweat of the Man who

loved us, bore also the footprints of an infamous Judas and a ruthless mob.

Awaiting the blessed Saviour, not far away, was yet another garden. It belonged to a wealthy nobleman who loved Messiah. It was located in close proximity to Golgotha, the place of the skull (John 19:17). What a contrast! The beauty of a garden and a head skeleton! "Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden..." (John 19:41).

Yes, and in the garden was a new tomb which some think Joseph may have prepared for himself. Or had this secret disciple perceived more than the other followers, of Christ's impending death, and prepared it for Him? One day we may know. Nevertheless, this was no joyous garden for Mary Magdalene. Instead it was a garden of sorrow. Her tears of grief were copious as she viewed an empty tomb, folded grave clothes, angels. But no sign of the One she loved. Angels were no comforting substitute for Him. Yet, her love proved to be blind as He stood before her and she thought He was the gardener. He was more than that; He was the Creator of all things, including the garden. "All things were made by Him... in Him was life..." (John 1:3,4). The same voice which brought all things into being spoke now to this dear, distraught woman who loved Him. "Mary", He said, and His voice never sounded sweeter to her. At its recognition she turned and responded: "Rabboni" (John 20:16). A garden of sorrow had become a garden of joy, of hope, of love. The fragrance of these sweetest of all blooms would linger with Mary for many a day.

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., | Nov 1991
General