Continuing the discussion of the Paradise plays performed on Christmas Eve, the evergreen tree (green) was decorated with apples and white wafers tied to the limbs.

The apples represented the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Was the fruit in the garden an apple? No, but it was the fruit they had available.  The bible does not give us any description of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The fruit represents mans rebellion from God.  Eve wanted to be a god.  She believed Satan’s words and she ate the fruit.  Then she persuaded Adam to do the same.

I find it interesting that the result of their sin was their separating from God.  He walked with them each day, but this time when He came they hid.

God takes the pair and removes them from the garden and allows them to know both Good and Evil in their life. Before they had only known what was good.  Now they knew suffering, pain and death.

Back to our tree.  The actors placed white wafers on the tree.  These were unblessed eucharist to represent Christ whose birthday they would celebrate the next day.  God stepped down from heaven to be born a baby in a stable.  He lived and taught and loved the people around HIm.  Then as a Passover Lamb He was sacraficed to cover the sins of all who trust Him as Lord of their lives.

We now have red, white and green–Christmas.  They would leave the tree up for Christmas day adding sweets and treats for the children to find in the morning.

Meditation

Spend time looking at my life and the times when I am in Rebellion from God.  Look at where I may say the words, but I am not living like I believe him.  Or I want something so I make excuses to justify what I want.

Prayer

Pray for forgiveness of specific sins and ask Christ to help me have true faith–to believe all He has said.

Action

When I see the Christmas colors of red, green and white, I will stop and thank Jesus for stepping down from heaven and for giving HIs life to cover my sins and build a bridge back to Him.