Tree of Life
The Tree of Life
Revelation 2:7
The Church of Ephesus is the first church mentioned in the list of churches addressed by Jesus in Revelation chapter 2. Ephesus was most likely the largest church in the province of Asia. We know from the New Testament and early Christian tradition that Paul had a hand in how the church in Ephesus began. Beginning in Acts chapters 19, we learn of some of that early tradition as well as some of the details of it’s believers and their ministry. It is no wonder, in light of what we know about the church and its ministry that Jesus chose to address this church first.
From what we read in our selected text, we gather that from the time of its origin, the church at Ephesus continued to overcome hardship, resist false teaching, labor in faith, and persevere under trial. Jesus commended these in the opening verses of His address. However, as verse 4 unfolds, we read of a sharp rebuke from Jesus: the church had “forsaken their first love”. In the midst of all activities taking place, the church had not embraced Jesus as their grandparents years prior had done. The church in Act 19 and the church presently addressed by Jesus were two very different churches.
As with all the churches in this chapter, Jesus concludes His remarks to Ephesus with a final statement of what He has in store for those who love Him and spend of life in intimacy with Him. Jesus says,
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
This concluding remark by Jesus has sparked the interest of theologians and scholars since perhaps it was first read. The imagery here is similar to that of the picture we receive in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Those who overcome, living life daily with Jesus, will lay claim to the right that God intended for man since the beginning. Those who overcome will live in paradise with God partaking freely of the life found in the tree.
Jesus packages his statement with specific words in this verse and it provides understanding for the kind of life he intends for Ephesus. If we were to pull away all adjectives and adverbs, and all other nonessential words in the sentence in order to understand exactly what Jesus is seeking to convey, we would find offered life found in a tree. They are inextricably linked in the verse and call our attention back to Genesis and forward to the later chapters in Revelation. The references to the “Tree of Life” are common and most who have read the Bible have come across the passages that speak of such life. But to find it here in our passage as something that is available at present for Ephesus is fascinating. Jesus desires the result of releasing Himself in their context of life being the life of this very tree.
The result of life presented in the tree has served to be a remarkable study for us. The English word tree is used several times and in several different contexts throughout our New Testament. The Greek words often translated tree are the following:
Greek Word English Translation
συκῆ fig tree
δένδρον tree
ξύλου tree (wood)
The word for tree in our passage is a translation from the Greek word ξύλου. What is interesting when investigating this word is that it is not normally translated tree in the proper since. Ξύλου is normally a translation for creations of wood, or of a plank of wood. The other words we translate tree, συκῆ and δένδρον, are often trees of various kinds and John could have used either one, but chose ξύλου. This word appears not only in our passage, but in chapters 14 and 22 as well. In expressing the life Jesus desires for us, John records Jesus using a unique and special word for tree.
In searching throughout the remainder of the New Testament what we found was remarkable. This word was used by three different authors, yet all in the same context. An example of each usage is listed below:
“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” Acts 5:30
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Gal 3:13
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Pet 2:24
These references, having all been written by different authors and different contexts, are included for their respective purposes. However, what is crucial for us in our study is how each reference to the word ξύλου is a reference to the cross by which Jesus was crucified. Ξύλου is the word that these authors chose to use, noted in their context to be a fulfillment of Scripture and retelling the account of Jesus’ crucifixion.
The result that Jesus seeks to bring about for the church in Ephesus, having released Himself into their context, is bring life. And not just any life, but the life found in His cross. The Cross Style life is life of the kingdom Jesus described in Matthew 10 and the characteristic of ministry in Matthew 16. Real ministry is defined by the cross and the Cross Style ministry is the only ministry accepted by Jesus. If you want to minister, being a Christian living in Jesus’ kingdom, Jesus says we must take up our cross and follow Him.
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