Genesis 3 - Curses and Christ
One of the more interesting things to meditate on relating to the curses we find in Genesis 3 is how they appear to have echoes in the story of Christ and his work on the cross.
A few things to meditate on:
Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’"
Curse of Death & New Life
We see that one of the specific statements said against the serpent is that “you will eat dust all the days of your life." Dust being a symbol for fragility and temporal nature when it comes to man’s existence. Adam is told in 3:19, ”…dust you are and to dust you will return."
Additionally, Romans 6:23 tells us that “For the wages of sin is death…"
…but the second half of Romans 6:23 gives us the contrast “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This is deepened in what we see Jesus say in John 6:51-54, ” I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Curse of Childbearing & New Birth
In the curse associated with the woman, we see that of anguish, sorrow, pain and anxiety related to childbearing. The imagery we are given here is one of toil and hardship in bringing about new life. See here for more details.
When Christ goes to the cross, there is all of these emotions - pain, sorrow, anxiety, etc.
This is what it takes to bring about a “new birth.”
Remember the story of Nicodemus? John 3:1-16 is where he tells the Pharisee ”…no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." Then there is a discussion about this new birth.
Curse Relating to the Man
The imagry of the curse related to man is one that is of a hostile earth. We see a couple of things that echo here. First, in 3:18 it says “It will produce thorns and thistles for you…". Thorns and thistles therefore become symbols of the earth’s brokeness.
One of the details that we see in the passion narrative is that Jesus is subjected to having a crown of thorns put on his head. He is taking the weight of this brokeness of the earth directly on himself.
Second, verse 18 further states, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food." This gives us symbols of the toil and hardship that comes with simply surviving and sustaining life.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus struggling over what is to come. So much so, that Luke 22:44 tells us, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
Trees
One last echo to consider is that of a tree. In the Garden, sin entered the world at a tree. On the cross, sin was conquered by Jesus’s death on a “tree.” Galatians 3:13 | Acts 5:30 | Acts 10:39 | Acts 13:29 | 1 Peter 2:24
These notes are unpolished on purpose. You can read more about why, here.