There in God’s Garden (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 342)
1 There in God’s garden
stands the Tree of Wisdom,
Whose leaves hold forth
the healing of the nations:
Tree of all knowledge,
Tree of all compassion,
Tree of all beauty.
2 Its name is Jesus,
name that says, “Our Savior!”
There on its branches see
the scars of suff’ring
See there the tendrils
of our human selfhood
feed on its lifeblood.
3 Thorns not its own
are tangled in its foliage;
Our greed has starved it,
our despite has choked it.
Yet, look! It lives!
Its grief has not destroyed it
nor fire consumed it.
4 See how its branches
reach to us in welcome;
Hear what the Voice says,
“Come to me, ye weary!
Give me your sickness,
give me all your sorrow,
I will give blessing.”
5 This is my ending,
This my resurrection;
Into your hands,
Lord, I commit my spirit.
This have I searched for;
Now I can possess it.
This ground is holy.
6 All heav’n is singing,
“Thanks to Christ whose
passion offers in mercy
Healing, strength, and pardon.
Peoples and nations,
Take it, take it freely!”
Amen! My Master!
Text: Király Imre von Pécselyi; Music K. Lee Scott.
Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A730924
Devotion
In verse two, the rich imagery of our hymn continues to evolve, and along with it, our own reflection. What may have first led our imagination to the tree of the Garden of Eden and eventually to the cross now takes us suddenly in an even deeper direction. This tree, this cross, now has a Name, and its name is Jesus. Jesus and the tree-cross have merged into one. And his Name Jesus speaks “Savior.” We are invited to look upon this tree, and now to see only Jesus, and in its branches to reflect upon the marks of Jesus’ suffering.
And finally, in the branches and tendrils of Jesus’ suffering, by the poet’s lead, we cannot do anything else but also ponder the weight of our own sin, that through our own selfhood has led to Jesus suffering on the cross. We have been led to confession of the ways in which our own disobedience has led to our Lenten journey to the cross.
Prayer
God of Love, as we ponder the tree of your Garden, may it lead us to marvel at the mystery of your love, that in Jesus would reach out its branches to enfold us as your beloved children. Amen.