Jesus Christ- the Apple Tree

by Anne Linington⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ Red Star

I had been struggling for some weeks to understand the words of one of the pieces chosen for the Choir to sing at the Music Festival. I knew of trees in Genesis and Revelation, but couldn’t recall a scripture for the song, “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. I continued to practice, albeit somewhat puzzled, though I had heard the same words at a Carol Service the previous Christmas, but to a different tune; “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, had me stumped!

While we were taking a short break at Lulworth Cove, I saw a lovely gnarled old apple tree from the dining room window where I was enjoying my final fry-up before returning to the Island .The garden birds were clearly enjoying their breakfast too, from the feeders suspended from it.

That evening, now back in Newport, I spent some time in Christian meditation, a daily practice I had begun six months earlier when recovering from a broken ankle. On this particular evening, the tune and then the words of the song came to mind, “Under the shadow I will be, of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. As I repeated them, I had the sense of sitting under the shade of a beautiful apple tree, and feeling a deep sense of security and protection; This I recognised as being Jesus Himself.

The next morning, due to a cold, I stayed home from Church. I spent some time expressing the sheer joy of this wonderful insight, in a pen and ink drawing- of me perched on a swing hanging from an apple tree. I was surrounded by some of the things that bring me delight- cats, books, music, flowers and a cup of tea.

The following Saturday I was sharing what had happened with a close friend, and showing her my drawing, when she told me that “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, was indeed found in the Bible, in the Song of Solomon. We looked it up together, and found it in Chapter 2v3 where the “Beloved” says of her “Lover”

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit

in His shade, and His fruit is sweet to my taste”.

I felt God had truly spoken to me and was confirming it without doubt through His word.

These past weeks my sense of security has been challenged, but on recognising this, I reaffirm where my true security lies, and learn to “Sit in His shade, and eat of His fruit”.

Article submitted Friday, December 25, 2009 & read 293 times.

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» left by Teresa^(1,656) (2 years 40 days ago.)

Anne! What a great personal revelation! Thanks for sharing, now I learned something new today as well. I don't ever remember reading that before. It's amazing no matter how many times we read a particular book of the Bible, we never see it all. God's word is truly alive and reveals different things to us for different seasons in our lives. I love this picture. Thank you and thank you dear Lord Jesus! Blessings to you! Teresa
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» left by Anonymous (2 years 40 days ago.)

This is a beautiful story, especially because it is true and something we can cling too. Can you tell me where the apple tree is discussed in Genesis?
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» left by Anonymous (2 years 39 days ago.)

I don't believe an apple tree is mentioned in Genesis, though tradition depicts Eve eating an apple. The tree I was thinking of was the tree of life in Genesis 3.

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