Page 89 - bv19

The Messiah’s Crucifixion Tree 89

In this symbolic parallel, Yeshua the Messiah represents the fruit of the Tree of Life. Ac-
cepting his sacrifice for atonement of sin provides the only way of salvation and eternal life. There-
fore, the Tree of Life is seen to be both literally and symbolically connected to the crucifixion and
what the Messiah did for us in his sacrifice.

Another pattern of the menorah emerges from the crucifixion tree -- the body of the Messiah
forming its central shaft, surrounded by six outstretched arms of the three as they hung on the tree.
Even as Yeshua claimed to be the light of the world, the menorah represents this truth:

Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me
shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

What Happened To the Crucifixion Tree?

The fate of the crucifixion tree is not known. However, it can be assumed that it was eventu-
ally cut down and destroyed. Because such a tree was considered cursed by the Jews, it may have
been destroyed soon after the Messiah’s crucifixion. Even if this did not occur, it is well known that
all trees around Jerusalem were destroyed by 70 A.D. By the Roman general, Titus, during his siege
of Jerusalem.

It should be noted that the Messiah was charged by the Jewish authorities with the most hei-
nous of crimes -- that of blasphemy (see Matthew 26:65). This meant that he was looked upon by
the people as “accursed of God,” and this is exactly how the apostle Paul described him in Galatians
3:13. This was a reference to Deuteronomy 21:22-23 in the Old Testament -- where it explains that
such an “accursed” person even defiled the very soil where his execution took place. This defile-
ment also applied to the TREE on which a person was hanged or crucified. In the Book of Hebrews
Paul said that the tree (the stauros) was considered “a shame” (Hebrews 12:2) and the crosspiece
(Latin: patibulum) “the reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). All the instruments of crucifixion were “ac-
cursed” because they came into contact with the “accursed one.” Writes Ernest Martin –

The essential teaching on how to cleanse the land of such “accursedness” is found in Deu-
teronomy 21:22, 23, and in the previous verse 21 it says this purging was to be done by
burning (Hebrew: bahgar). In the Old Testament example of such purging, it was thought
necessary to burn the possessions of such an “accursed one” because the abominable sin of
the person was even transferred to the things owned by the sinner (since he had touched
them and this reckoned even his possessions “accursed”) -- Secrets of Golgotha, pp.
179-180.

We see this with the possessions of Achan, who lived during the time of Joshua (Joshua
7:15, 24-26). He sinned so grievously that he was killed -- along with his children and animals --
and all his “accursed” things were burnt up with him. This practice of complete and utter destruc-
tion was deemed the only way to purify the land of Israel from such defilements.

Taking this as the cardinal example of what happened to an “accursed one” and the “ac-
cursed things” which he had come in contact with, it is almost certain that the tree on which the
Messiah was crucified was burnt to ashes by the Jewish authorities. It was reckoned “a shame” -- it-

The Berean Voice March-April 2003