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 this hymn, Jesus is represented as a tree of wisdom, beauty, and compassion. The tree has suffered from harms inflicted upon it, yet it is not ultimately destroyed. In fact, through analogy to Jesus’ death and resurrection, the “tree” grants forgiveness, healing, and life to all through its suffering. Verse four paints a warm image of the tree’s branches reaching out like arms to welcome in all who need rest and its protective covering. The voice of Jesus broadcasts an invitation to surrender our sorrow and tiredness and receive instead the blessed mercy that Jesus’ death and resurrection have secured for us. This offer makes space for us to acknowledge all that exhausts or afflicts us. It also comforts us with the fact that Christ has endured our suffering and promises that life has the last word.
Prayer
Loving God, help us to lay our burdens down at the foot of Christ’s cross. Renew us with your forgiveness and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.