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Walking, Talking Trees

 “And he looked up and said, ‘”I see men as trees, walking.’” Mark 8:24

I actually have no idea as to the deep truth that the Holy Spirit is trying to convey here.  But I do know that it’s in His word for a reason.  I have been thinking about this verse for a few months now and I just wanted to comment on a few things I have thought about concerning it.

It is found only in the gospel of Mark.  The blind man is from a city that the Lord had pronounced judgment on in Matthew 11:21¹; so this could be the reason that the Lord instructed him to not return to the city and to not speak to anyone in the city.

Trees are referred to in scripture from the very beginning of time.  There were two trees in the garden.  According to Genesis 2:9² they were both in the “midst of the garden.” This word “midst” in the Hebrew means “the middle – the center.” These two trees then were probably side-by-side.  The tree of life (in my opinion) was a grapevine.  Because John saw the tree of life on both sides of the river in Revelation 22:2³ (and Ezekiel alludes to this in his vision in chapter 47⁴) and the only way a tree (singular) can be on both sides of a river is that it is a vine.  And this correlates perfectly with the words of our Lord, “I am the true Vine⁴.” And God also recorded of His Son in Psalm 80:8-11, “You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations and planted it.  You prepared room for it, and caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land.  The hills were covered with its shadow, and the mighty cedars with its boughs.  She sent out her boughs to the sea, and her branches to the river.”  And I personally think that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a fig tree.  Jeremiah 24:8 speaks of “the evil figs which cannot be eaten, they are so evil.” All through the Old Testament the Vine tree and the Fig tree are mentioned together.  And of course the Lord cursed only one type of tree in scripture, and it was a fig tree.

Also it cannot be just a coincidence that scripture refers to Christ as a branch four times in four different ways correlating to the four Gospels; which in turn correlate with the four faces of the Cherubim.

1. Matthew – “…a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign⁵.”  (The face of a Lion) So then in Matthew His Kingship is displayed.
2. Mark – “Behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch⁶.” (The face of a Calf, or Ox as some translations render it) So then in Mark His Servant-ship is displayed.
3. Luke – “Behold the Man whose name is the Branch⁷.” (The face of a Man)  So then His Manhood (humanity) is displayed.
4. John – “In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious⁸.” (The face of an Eagle)  So then in John he is the Son of God – above all – of the heavens – seeing all things from above.

People are referred to as trees throughout scripture also.  The references are just too numerous to mention.  The avid, and attentive student of scripture will know most of these right off.  So then, why does God refer to men as trees throughout all of scripture?  I don’t know…I just know that he does; and I find it very interesting.  And I am seeking Him for answers on this issue all the time.  Our God is a very symbolic God.  He is much into types, shadows, allegories, and suchlike.  He is very mysterious to me in this area of His heart and mind.  So if you have any insight as to why He refers to us as trees throughout all of scripture please let me know.

In the book of Judges chapter 9:7-15, the trees of the field are found to be talking and reasoning among themselves as to who will be king.  It is obvious that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jotham when he gave his prophetic parable of the talking trees.

I have read so many commentaries over the years about the man who saw men as trees walking and most of them are a worthless read because they approach the subject from a totally natural standpoint of the blind man’s medical condition, his history of blindness, when someone sees for the first time their brain can’t put all the images together, etc., etc., etc.  I don’t buy any of it.  The Lord could have healed him instantly as he did every other blind man who saw perfectly as soon as the Lord healed them.  No, there’s something else going on here…something much deeper…something very spiritual with much significance.

Could it be that the blind man saw men symbolically in the spirit as they really are?  Trees without fruit as Jude v.12¹⁰ says, trees with no roots, trees with no leaves.  Show me a tree with no leaves and I’ll show you a dead tree.  Show me a fruit tree that bears no fruit and I’ll show you a useless tree.  Show me a tree with no roots in the ground and I’ll show you a tree that is dying.  For how can it be watered or have any true stability against the storms of life if it’s not rooted deep in the ground?

A tree with no leaves is a naked tree.  It is vulnerable to the weather; it has lost its “robe” or “garment” if you will.  A tree with no fruit in season is a barren tree all alone.  No one can enjoy it or admire it or receive anything from it.  And a fruitless tree cannot reproduce anything of value to propagate its own kind.  He is alone in the world without God, without a covering, and bearing no fruit unto God; he is open to all of the attacks of the elements, and one really cold winter night might just do him in.  Just this very morning in prayer the Lord caused me to see one of His parables in a whole new light.  It is the parable of the good samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37.  Notice some things about the man:  A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho (he left “God’s house” and went to the “moon city” which represents a place of idol worship).  In other words this is each and every man.  We have all left God (because we were in Adam and when Adam left, we left with him).  And then the man fell among thieves.  Jesus calls satan a thief in Matthew 13 and in John 10.  So then satan has stolen from each man.  But if this wasn’t enough, he stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, (how did he wound him? Spiritually, and in his soul.  “A wounded spirit who can bear¹¹“? & “The wounded soul cries out¹².”) and departed, leaving him half dead (his body is alive but the inner man is dead).  But notice that satan stole his clothing (his covering, his protection, that which covers ones nakedness, that which keeps a man warm in cold times.)

Brethren, are you bearing fruit for Him?  Or are you withering on the Vine.  If you’re not drinking the life-supply that comes from the Root (Jesus being referred to as a root 7 times in scripture)…then you’re drying up.  Your branch can be easily broken or snapped in two.  If you are a green living branch then you can bend and not break because you have moisture in you and you have stability because you are drinking from the Root.  Brethren, sap is trying to get to you with all of its nutrients.  Will you reject the sap or will you accept it?  You see, the trees of the Lord are full of sap according to Psalm 104:16. And every good tree has leaves.  The leaves are for others’ healing and restoration.  Can you see these truths?  I’m doing my best to portray them as I see them and as I understand them.  I only pray that you can really hear, see, understand, and receive them.

Prayer: “Father, cause our hearts to be opened to Your Son’s words in John 15 about Him being the Vine and we the branches.  Enlarge our hearts to really understand what You are saying.  Oh God Eternal, I just want to become as a little child in Your sight and in Your presence.  I confess that I know nothing, I am nothing, and I never will be anything.  I just want to be a little child and learn from You.  Fill me and my brothers and sisters with wisdom from above.  We lay aside all of our own ideas, and perceptions of You.  Incline our hearts to Your word.  Teach us Your ways, reveal more of Your Son to us.  Cause Your Goodness to pass before us as You did for Moses on the mountain.  Oh Lord, show us Your glory again.  Arise once again and visit us as you did our forefathers.  Cause your face to shine upon Your people again.  Remember us and leave us not to ourselves.  Come to our aid amidst our enemies and fight for us once again.  Be the “Lord God of Elijah” to us again.  We need You Lord – we love you Lord, and we look to You Lord.  Jesus, continue to push your “sap” into us as we obey and as we believe.  Cause us to really see again and to really believe again.  Let Your word have the very first place in our hearts again.  Let Your words burn within our hearts along the way as You fellowship with us as we fellowship around You.  Oh…loving Spirit of the eternal God, come.  Come into our midst, fill us with Yourself.  Reveal the Son to us as never before.  Take what is His and show it unto us.  Teach us Your ways that we not hinder You, grieve You, or hurt Your feelings.  Use us again to reach and to water the barren trees (souls of men) of the earth who have no protection, no Sonlight, and no hope.” Amen (so be it).