WHAT IS GREEN TREE?
I JOHN 2:1
My little children, I am
writing to you so that you
may not sin; but if any one
does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ
The Righteous One.
ISAIAH 53:11
BY HIS KNOWLEDGE
MY SERVANT,
THE RIGHTEOUS ONE
SHALL MAKE MANY
RIGHTEOUS!
HE IS LORD!
JOHN 8:46
Which of you can convict me of sin?
JOHN 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
I am excited about bringing into fruition the vision of Green Tree and the publication of Ha- Shoresh Digest. The purpose of both endeavors is to establish an educational ministry on the internet for two types of supporters, Green Tree Ambassadors and Green Tree Shepherds. The name Green Tree is based on the passage of scripture in Luke 23:31. In this passage, Jesus refers to himself as the Green Tree. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are full of Hebrew expressions like this one that point to Jesus' self awareness. Green Tree is a Messianic title used by Jesus to reference his suffering servant ministry. It is not mere coincidence that Jesus happened to employ this term during the crucifixion. The meaning, application, and reality of this title has brought a plethora of families and individuals throughout the world into a saving knowledge of Christ.
Green Tree is a synonym for "righteous". When Jesus employed the term in Luke 23:31, he was
identifying himself as "The Righteous One" of Isaiah 53:11. Isaiah 53:11 reads "...by his knowledge shall The Righteous One, my servant, make many righteous." Now you can see why this title as employed by Jesus in Luke 23:11 has brought a great number of sinners into a saving knowledge of the Messiah. Oh, but there is more! This Green Tree/Righteous One not only brings lost souls into a saving knowledge/ intimacy with both he and his Father, but as the Green Tree, he forever serves as an Advocate before the Father on behalf of the believers presiding over cases of sin. Note what John writes in Ist John 2:1-2:
My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin, but if any
one does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous
One (The Green Tree), and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours
only but also for the sins of the whole world.
By now I am sure you are getting a pretty good idea what Green Tree ministry is all about. That right! "The LIFE that was made manifest" in human history. The ETERNAL LIFE which was with the Father and was made manifest to us. The Messiah who has become the believers LIFE. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The one who proclaimed during his earthly ministry "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". This Righteous One/The Green Tree who after completing his great work of redemption on earth was raise from his sacrificial death and seated at the right hand of the Father. He is now making intercession for the believers and bringing many sons to glory.
When Jesus referred to himself as the Green Tree, he was hinting back to Ezekiel 20:47 where you will find both the Hebrew expression "green tree" and "dry tree" employed in a prophetic oracle. In Luke 23:31, Jesus refers to himself as "the Green Tree" and to the rest of humanity including his disciples as "the dry tree". Dry tree is a Hebrew idom which means "the unrighteous". It is to be understood in the context of Paul's discussion on justification in the Book of Romans wherein he proclaims that "None is righteous, no, not one." The context of Ezekiel 20:47 is the judgment that God is about to execute against every "green tree", and every "dry tree". God in effect prophesied that he is going to devour both "the righteous" and "the unrighteous".
The Hebrew idom Green Tree as employed by Jesus represents what this ministry is clearly about, Jesus The Righteous One! Understanding this brief study of the Hebrew expression "Green Tree" in its proper historical and spiritual context should raise the consciousness of all true believers to deeply appreciate Jesus' self awareness and his commitment to fulfill the divine moed (appointed time) of God. "Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant (Isaiah 53:11), being born in the likeness of men". In order to fulfill his mission and purpose, he became "obedient unto death, even death on a cross" to establish eternal salvation for all mankind. May the Holy One Blessed Be He, be glorified in the earth by all who call upon the name of Jesus. "So let justice [Jesus the Righteous One] roll on like a river, righteousness [Our Jewish Roots/ Spiritual support] like a never failing stream (Amos 5:24)."