Drawing Lesson V: Two Trees of the Gospel

This is the final “how to draw” lesson in this series.

The purpose of this lesson is to show the connection between Eden and Calvary.

The sin of Adam is the reason there is a need for a Savior. It’s really a Gospel presentation using trees from history. To truly understand the cross of Christ (the good news), we must connect it with the sin of the human race (the bad news) beginning with Adam.

This lesson is best presented on an overhead projector. Draw the two trees connected as shown in the animation. Using two different colored markers is suggested.

On a marker or chalkboard, the tree and the cross may be drawn side by side.

Step one:

Divide the page in half with a horizontal line through the center of the page.

Step two:

On the top half of the page, draw a cross using the horizontal center line as the ground. Explain that most everyone thinks of the cross as the only tree of the Gospel message, but it’s actually the second “tree” of the Gospel.

Step three:

Now turn the page around so the empty bottom half is on top and draw two lines up from where the cross meets the dividing line. Use these two lines to draw a tree. Add fruit to this tree. Simple circles will work. Explain that this is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that we read about in the book of Genesis. This tree is the first tree of the Gospel. Without this real historical tree in Eden, there would be no need for a cross. The tree with the forbidden fruit led to the need for our Savior to die on the cross thus paying for sin.

Step four:

You can compare these two trees to point out how they are connected.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is identified with Adam. The cross is identified with Christ (the Last Adam - 1 Corinthians 15:45)

Through the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil came the bad news. Through the cross came the Good News.

Through the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil came sin. Through the cross came the payment for sin.

Through the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil came death. Through the cross came the way to eternal life.

Use the trees to explain the meaning of Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.