Adam v. The Eschatological Adam

We are trekking through Genesis on Sunday mornings. I've read through Genesis a number of times and God has been gracious to me in revealing different and deeper realities to me from His Word each time through (some places more than others). Two Sundays ago we arrived at what seemed like the most tragic event in human history--The Fall. Man disobeys God's command and neglects responsibility, leading to the total depravity of Adam and Eve and all of their descendants. This is tragic, is it not? Think about it, man has gone from what is seemingly untroubled and uninterrupted bliss, in the garden, into the complete ruin in sin because of their actions and it's their fault:

And to Adam he said,

Because you listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

You shall not eat of it,

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life

Genesis 3:17

As I read this I thought to myself, "Wow. Aside from the Cross, this has to be the most tragic event in human history." Then I thought, "Where is Jesus in this text? How does this text reflect Christ and how does He shine through to make this text both tragic and wonderful, just like the Cross?" 

Answer: Jesus is everything that Adam was not. He accomplished, by His obedience, everything that Adam's disobedience ruined. Adam was next to his bride while she was being deceived by the serpent and did nothing. Jesus protects His bride, loves her her and never lets her go (John 10:28). Indeed, God fights for His children. Adam blame shifts when He is called out by God in the garden, blaming his sin and laziness on his bride (Gen 3:12). Jesus accepts the blame and punishment for the sins of His bride, owning them without complaint or a word of accusation (2 Cor 5:21). Adam runs from the presence of God so that he doesn't have to face the shame of his own sin in the presence of the God he's disobeyed (Gen 3:8). Jesus joyfully runs toward his cross, despising the shame that sin brings (Heb 12:2; Luke 9:51). Adam's sin brought "sight" and knowledge of good and evil to mankind but this sight is one that doesn't actually see, it's a "blind-sight" (Gen 3:7; Matt 13:3; Luke 8:10; 2 Cor 4:4). Jesus is a light to the blind and His finished work purchases a grace for believers that gives them spiritual eyes to truly see (John 9:25). Adam works to try and cover his own sin with leaves from a tree that God created (Gen 3:7). Jesus covers the sins of believers with His blood and His righteousness; sinners are forgiven in Him (Rom 3:25, 4:7, 5:9, Eph 1:7). As a result of the curse Adam is made to work the ground for fruit so that he can live. Consequently, this fruit and these plants will die, just like Adam (Gen 3:17-19). Jesus' finished work and the forgiveness that is found in Him brings forth lasting fruit by His Spirit, fruit that will never die and that leads to eternal life (Rom 6:22, 7:4-5; Phil 1:9-11). Jesus is the ultimate and perfect Adam.

I'm confident there are more contrasts you can draw from Genesis that shed light on Christ. Needless to say I am truly enjoying seeing Christ in Genesis and all the Scriptures.