I trust you will be encouraged and blessed as you take the story that never ends to heart - perhaps for the first time! It is my hope that you will find a quiet place to reflect on this wonderful story and draw strength, or "new life" itself, from your relationship with Christ. Then "You'll love to tell the story!"
Everyone loves a good story. When I'm reading a good book, I hate to see it end, even when it has a happy ending. "The Passion Tree Devotional" is based on the greatest story ever told. This story is recorded in the Bible and contains God's plan for His creation and for mankind. Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). He is in the process of doing just that. It is truly amazing that God inspired human writers to pen His Redemptive Plan in the books from Genesis to Revelation. Its pages reveal the reason for death and corruption in this world and answer hard questions, like; "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" "Is there life after death?" "Is there a God?" and "Can 1 know Him?" You can learn that there is a reason you are here and that you have the possibility of a wonderful future ahead.
I am blessed to share a few illustrations from this eternal story. The Bible contains untold numbers of events that have transpired throughout human history. It also forecasts many other events that are yet to come. 1 selected twenty-four events and used twenty-four ornaments on the tree to illustrate the flow and continuity of this Word from God, the Bible.
The painting, "The Passion Tree," includes many symbols and illustrations of these wonderful stories.
THE TREE: The tree represents the entire message. You'll notice the tree is scaled much too large for the landscape. This is to illustrate the incomprehensible dimensions of God's Word and His Plan for us.
THE RED GARLAND: The red garland that is woven throughout the tree never ends. It connects the ornaments and candles and represents what some have called "the crimson thread." It symbolizes the blood of Christ. His life is woven through all history from eternity past to eternity future.
THE STORY: The story begins in the paintings of the ornaments, starting at the lower left on the tree and chronologically follows the crimson garland coursing to the topper. There are 12 ornaments that show events in the Old Testament and 12 ornaments that illustrate events in the New Testament.
THE CROWNS AND STAR: The red garland continues past the last ornament into the crown of thorns, which is now budding with life because Jesus is alive! At the top of the tree you'll see a star representing the glory of God. The seven lights remind us of the perfection of God and His seven-fold nature. In the center of the crown of thorns there is a majestic crown that conveys the confident truth that Jesus is coming again and will reign as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS forever and ever.
RED ORNAMENTS: Down the center of the tree, the red ornaments form a cross. Believing in Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross is the only way to heaven. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4: 12 NlV).
33 CANDLES: There are 33 candles. Jesus was born and walked on earth for 33 years in the form of a man. You can see an image of Christ in each flame, which illustrates the fact that in this dark world, He is Indy the Light.
MAP OF THE WORLD: There are some people under the tree carrying the Light to others who are walking in darkness. The snow-covered landscape suggests a map of the entire globe because this Message is for every person on the face of the earth.
The Passion Tree Devotional has been created for use as a teaching tool to come to a greater knowledge of God's Word and His Plan for mankind. It can be used any time of the year but is especially meaningful during the month of December. In addition to the paintings, each day contains a devotional thought, a scripture to look up, and a prayer that will draw you closer to the Lord and prepare you to celebrate Christmas with a pure heart of devotion. I've also hidden some symbolic pictures in the paintings. As you read through, see how many you can find, then you might want to go to the back of the book to read my comments.
Jack E. Dawson
See Sample Page below
