Garden Stories

by Rebecca Irwin

Sunday, in a timely message titled “Fear and the Stories We Live By,” Pastor Lou Huesmann used the phrase “Garden Stories”. It was here he gave a brief contrast between the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the Genesis 3:9-10 we read about the first time FEAR entered into the story in the Garden of Eden : “But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid’." Here, in the garden, entered a fear of death, a fear of others and a willingness to sacrifice others to make our self safe. Adam and Eve sought to preserve their own lives.

The second garden story is first found in Matthew 26. Jesus has gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. In verse 38, he cries out to His Father, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Again, in verse 42 Jesus prays, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." Finally, in verse 44 the Scriptures state “So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.” In this garden, Jesus renounces the idol of security and comfort. He did not choose to sacrifice others to make himself safe. He did not choose to preserve His own life. What wonderful news to my ears that Jesus Christ did not give into fear!

I could not help but think of a third garden story in the Bible. It is described in the Song of Solomon. It is a beautiful description of the pursuit of love. In chapter 4 it says, “You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon. Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.” The love Jesus had for us caused him to pursue us and woo us. He created and cultivated a beautiful garden where life began. Then he created a way to save us from the death that had entered in. His new life, the new creation has broken into human history. Stop today and smell the rose of Sharon fragrant with his love for us!

Father, we respond with the same reflex of fear that Adam and Eve demonstrated in the Garden. If we honestly look at our fears, we seek to preserve ourselves. Sacrifice is not natural. It is too risky. That is what makes the Garden of Gethsemane so astounding. Your son, Jesus, renounced self-preservation. He was willing to make the sacrifice. An unblemished life! Thank you for your deep and passionate love for us. Teach us to put fear aside by finding our self and our security in you. Thank you Jesus!