7 Connections to Draw between the Garden, Nativity, and Cross as You Prepare for Easter

1. God’s Presence connects the Garden, Nativity, and the Cross

The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1 KJV). In His perfect creation, the garden of Eden provided a place for the first couple to walk and talk with God (Genesis 3:8).

They had everything. They enjoyed food, work, companionship, beauty, and fellowship with God. When sin entered the picture, however, it shattered the idyllic world God created and separated humankind from the fellowship previously enjoyed in the presence of the Creator. 

But with judgment, God also promised a Savior who would take upon Himself sin’s curse. (Genesis 3:15) God’s promise led to Christ’s birth.

When the time was right, the virgin Mary gave birth to the Incarnate God. We celebrate the nativity at Christmastime, brought to the world Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22).

Adam opened his eyes to a perfect world. Jesus opened His perfect eyes to a world tainted by sin. God, clothed in the flesh of humanity, walked again among us. Yet, the purpose with which Christ came took Him to the cross.

Christ died nailed to a cruel cross. He was the perfect Lamb, the sacrifice for our sins. But death could not keep Him. He rose from the dead, providing eternal life for all who put their trust in Him. He opened a path for God’s presence to live within us and renewed fellowship with Him.

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2. Evil connects the Garden, the Nativity, and the Cross

Satan tempted Eve in the garden. God commanded Adam not to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, but Adam and Eve disobeyed. That famous bite brought the seed of sin into humanity’s heart.

Evil and violence ran in the political and religious world to which Jesus came. Wicked King Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus, so he evilly slaughtered all baby boys two years old and younger.

The cross climaxed a boiling resentment carried out by evil men who plotted to kill Jesus. Satan entered Judas, one of the twelve disciples. He betrayed Jesus, selling him for a paltry amount of money and thereby precipitating Christ’s crucifixion. Jesus died at the hands of evil men.

Each event presents a great spiritual battle between God and Satan, good and evil.

In the garden, God promised Adam that death would be the consequence of their disobedience. God’s plan, initiated in the garden, birthed in nativity, and fulfilled on the cross, assures our salvation.

Christ, born without the sinful seed of humanity’s sin, lived a sinless life in unmarred holiness. He died to pay the ransom for our sins and rose again, forever canceling the debt original sin carried.

^“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 ESV)

The resurrection, Easter’s joy, proved Satan’s defeat.

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3. The Firstborn connects the Garden, Nativity, and the Cross

Scripture places great importance on the position of the firstborn, and as we draw parallels between the garden, nativity, and cross, we get a glimpse of why.

Adam, the firstborn of humankind, became the patriarch of humanity. Jesus, Mary’s firstborn, was also the firstborn Son of God. Jesus, the firstborn of God, was also the firstborn of the dead and firstborn over death. We who are born again into Christ are firstborn heirs of Him (Galatians 4:7).

The Old Testament concept of birth order or rank gave the firstborn son preeminence and privileges. The firstborn was set aside as God’s own.

In the Old Testament, God referred to Israel, His firstborn son, as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ coming (Exodus 4:22). In Revelations 1:5, John refers to Jesus as the firstborn from the dead. Paul uses similar language, also naming Jesus as firstborn.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 ESV)

“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18 ESV)

Christ the Firstborn, the resurrected Eternal Lord and King, met all Sin-Bearer requirements by His sinless life, birth, and death.

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4. Perfect Humanity (and Deity) Connect the Garden, Nativity, and the Cross

In the Bible’s very first chapter, we see humanity and deity. All three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, are present in creation.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-17 NKJV)

Jesus’ nativity demonstrates both humanity and deity. The nativity birthed the first perfect God-Man. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ Father was God Himself. Christ’s immaculate conception and His incarnation meet with one hundred percent humanity and one hundred percent deity.

In John 17:5, Jesus declares Himself as having been with the Father before creation. In John 10:30, He presents Himself with the Father. On several occasions, He taught that to know Him means to know the Father.

Jesus confirmed both His deity and humanity in life and death.

The cross held the Son of God clothed in a physical body. He shed His blood and bore the terrible pain. Wholly, God carried our sins. He was perfectly able to save.

A doubting Thomas declared he would not believe that Christ rose from the dead unless he saw the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and touched the place where a spear had pierced His side. Later, he agreed with both Christ’s humanity and deity when he proclaimed, “My Lord and My God.”

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5. Supernatural Events connect the Garden, Nativity, and the Cross

God’s hand brought everything into existence, from a world null and void to one teeming with life and breath. The garden displayed a handiwork supernaturally created by God. God spoke, and the world came into being.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (1 John 1:1-2 ESV)

Christ’s nativity overflows with supernatural events. Angels appeared to Mary, Zechariah, Joseph, and the shepherds. A virgin conceived a Child of God. Zechariah lost the ability to speak. Elizabeth had a son in her old age. A star led the magi to the house where they found Jesus. A dream from God warned them to go home another way. A prophet and prophetess in the temple confirmed Him as the Messiah.

At the cross, supernatural events brought fear and wonder. The sky grew dark, the temple veil tore in two, and an earthquake shook the ground. Many who had died came to life again and walked about. Angels marked the entrance of an empty grave.

Christ overthrew every law of nature and walked away from the tomb. 

The events surrounding creation, Jesus’ birth, and resurrection all portray the supernatural. They transcended the laws of nature.

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6. Light and Darkness Connect the Garden, the Nativity, and the Cross

“Let there be light,” God said. And there was light. Sunshine filled the garden by day, and the moon and stars lit the sky at night.

The play of light and darkness, its place and purpose in Scripture, shines in the garden, nativity, and at the cross.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12 NKJV).

Jesus’ nativity filled the dark heavens with bright light. A dazzling star led the way for the magi. And, at the Savior’s coming, spiritual light showed into dark hearts.

At the cross, the sky darkened and remained that way for three hours.

At the Resurrection, we see light shining from a dark tomb. “For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.” (Matthew 28:2-3 NKJV)

Surely, the appearances of light and darkness in the garden, nativity, and cross speak to those whose lives have been rescued from the darkness of sin and brought into the light of forgiveness.

Peter speaks of believers as ones to proclaim His praises for calling us from darkness to light (1 Peter 2:9). The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8 NKJV).

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7. Love connects the Garden, the Nativity, and the Cross

Love motivated the creation, birth, and death of Jesus. He created us for fellowship because He loved us. He designed a garden in which every delight of humanity could thrive. He desired the people He created to respond to His love by choice. When they did not, God’s love required the sacrifice of His own Son whom He loved.

God’s love brought His Son into the world. And His love sent His Son to the cross.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

All three, the garden, nativity, and cross, came about because of God’s incomprehensible love for us. 

As an adult, I find that with each Easter celebration, I discover more of Him. I still look forward to the Easter egg hunt with my grandchildren and its treats, but those things don’t define the holiday’s specialness. As I look to the cross, there is so much beyond what I see on the surface. From the beginning of time, God’s plan has carefully shaped and molded the amazing victory we celebrate. The garden, nativity, and the cross entwine to display a glorious triumph and invite worship of a Risen Savior.

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