Adam's Sin Forgiven

 

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21 ESV).

 

This painting, “The Descent from the Cross,” is by Joos van Cleve. He was a leading artist active in Antwerp from his arrival there around 1511 to his death in 1540 or 1541. Within Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, he combines the traditional techniques of Early Netherlandish painting with influences of more contemporary Renaissance painting styles. There is something in this rendering that is important to notice. Like many of the old masters who painted the crucifixion, you will often see a human skull, right at the base of Jesus' cross. The traditional understanding of this inclusion is that the skull represents Adam's skull. It is a reminder of when human beings first disobeyed God and fell into evil. It is a reminder of the time when death first became a part of the human experience. Our reading today comes from that context.

Surely, Adam and Eve weren't thinking of Jesus' cross when they first reached out to pick the forbidden fruit. They were looking at a tree in paradise, one that was beautiful, green, full of fruit, lovely to the eye and tempting to the taste. They could not have imagined the very different tree they were bringing about by their rebellion against God. However, that tree would stand at Calvary, not in Eden. Instead of beauty, there would be horror; instead of green leaves, dry, rough wood. It made no appeal to the eye or taste; people turned from it in fear and disgust. And what hung on its branches was the dying Son of God.

Adam and Eve didn't foresee Jesus' cross, but God did. Walking in the garden that evening, He called out to His lost children. "Adam, where are you?" He knew what had happened. Still He heard their half-hearted confession, warned them of the consequences to come, and covered their shame, all the while knowing that the cross lay in His Son's future. God Himself would rescue His sinful children at the cost of the life of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, remember that it was not just Adam and Eve’s sin that God forgave on the Cross… it was ours as well!