How great is the contrast between the good that stretched out before Adam in Eden, and the evil that lay before Christ in Gethsemane. The garden of Eden was a place of delight, but Gethsemane was a garden of suffering and distress. The first Adam sinned through disobedience in Eden; the Last Adam triumphed through obedience in Gethsemane. In Adam's fall all men are lost. In Christ's victory there is provision for all men to be saved.

The garden of Eden had the tree of life. The garden of Gethsemane was a step toward the tree of death, for the cross is called a tree (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24). By Adam's transgression—eating of the forbidden tree of the "knowledge of good and evil"—he forfeited his right to the tree of life, and brought death to all men. He who hung on the tree of Calvary conquered death, and restored the tree of life to all who trust Him as personal Saviour.

Adam and Eve spent time talking with Satan in Eden, while Jesus spent time talking with God in Gethsemane. Adam received fruit from Eve's hand in disobedience to God's will in Eden, but in Gethsemane Jesus accepted the cup from God's hand in obedience to God's will. Adam faced his own guilt and its consequences in Eden, but Jesus faced the sin and guilt of others, and its consequences, in Gethsemane. Thus, Adam was driven out of the garden of Eden, but the Lord was led away from Gethsemane to go to Calvary's cross.