Reminder’s of the Covenant
An analysis of the covenant-making ceremony in primitive cultures reveals that memorials, or reminders, were designed to prevent either party from forgetting the covenant.
First, we’ll see that the Planting of a Tree was reminder step in the covenant-making process. Gen. 21:31-33: "So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.32After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk [member of palm family] tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God."
The trees of the Garden: In the very beginning of the Bible we see the importance that God placed upon a tree.
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He allowed them to eat from any tree, with the single exception of one the Bible calls "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."
The individual’s attempt to eat from that tree indicates a desire to play God and to determine our own standard of right and wrong.
Isa. 5:20 states "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."
Genesis 3:22-24
"And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
Whenever people make themselves to be their own god, they lose access to the tree of life. They bring death upon themselves.
The Impact of Calvary’s Tree
Revelation 22:8-9
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"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you.... 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city..... 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."In Genesis a guard was put around the tree of life. Adam and Eve were cast out; they had no access to the tree that would provide life for them.
In the last chapter of the entire Bible the tone is exactly opposite. The Spirit of God says, "Come," and we have a right to come to the tree of life.
Calvary’s tree made it possible for all of us to go back to the Tree of Life.
The New Testament Reminder - Communion.
In John 6, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life... 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:48 &51).
Jesus is saying to them, "I am your covenant meal. I am living bread for you."
I Cor. 11:24-29 tells us that the Lord’s Supper is a Covenant Reminder.
"When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."