In the beginning of time, there was but a void in the expanse of the universe. Two atomic particles collided and began to grow larger until the stars, planets, and other astronomical masses were formed. Upon a relatively small planet in a system on the outer reaches of the expanding universe, life began to evolve from the waters. Over hundreds of millenia, this process of evolution brought life from the oceans to the land and skies. Approximately 7 billion years ago, the process of evolution suddenly stopped. Life on the small planet had reached its peak in the subject of perfection. This first male of its species named its kind "human." This new lifeform was among the first to be self-aware, and felt if there were to be another, it would need a unique name unlike others, so as to not be confused as a different being altogether. The name Adam felt correct, as from one atom a universe was created, and from Adam's life all other humans would be created. Within a short span of time Adam found a beautiful tree and wished to eat of its fruit. When he reached for the branches, however, he heard a mighty voice from the sky declare that to eat of the tree would promise two effects. The first was that Adam's eyes would be opened and become as the creator. The second effect of eating it would be the loss of Adam's genetic perfection, which promised death. Imperfections in Adam's DNA would result in the loss of immortality itself. So Adam, as any human today, chose to eat the fruit. With a single bite, he learned all the secrets of the universe. He knew how he was created and how he would be destroyed. He felt a great loneliness in the knowledge that he was alone. With his new knowledge, he decided to create another of his kind. Once he had created his helper, he named her Eve, because her creation came in the later portion if his life. Together, Adam and Eve decided that this knowledge was too dangerous for mankind, and burned the tree to the ground and began to explore their world. They then began to reproduce and fill the face of the world with their offspring. The knowledge of the tree was lost with their death, but we still occasionally feel that we know the right choice to make.

Jumping ahead to around 0 BC, their linage had become the most feared of the species on the planet now known as Earth. Without the knowledge of the tree, humans were destroying every land they settled into. Wars, famine, and plagues mercilessly annihilated entire civilizations. During a time of rest between disasters, a woman found a massive tree, hollowed out in the middle of a barren land. She was running away from her past, after she had been impregnated by a man that no one had known. She took shelter in the tree for the night and promised the tree that she would return and supply it with water for the protection it gave her. Over the next several months, she nursed the tree back to life, and it grew a large fruit in its branches. She knew at once that this tree was special. She closed her eyes and wept with joy, knowing that her actions had revived something good in the world. She began to think of nothing except the welfare of this particular tree, forsaking all else to restore the tree. In her sixth month of pregnancy, the tree was fully alive and she was nearing death. As she fought to water its branches this day, she fell to the ground in exhaustion.

The large roots beneath her raised her high into the branches. A message began forming from within the tree, "Just as you have forsaken all others to save me, now I will forsake myself to save you. Do as I tell you, woman. Eat the sole fruit from my branches, and return to the man your family has promised you to. Be honest with him in everything, and name your child after me, as I was the first of my kind, as well as the last. This will be true of your child as well. Young Jesus will draw attention from those who crave it, and this will will no doubt anger many. Do not sway from Him like a branch in the wind, for nothing in the seas, land, or sky can defeat Him. He will be known as the King of the Jews. When the time comes for Him to leave your world, do not mourne Him. He is I, and I, Him. And I am everlasting, omnipotent."

The woman reached high into the branches and touched the magnificent fruit, claiming it as her own. She then battled nature's fury as she retraced her steps and returned home. She knew what the tree had demanded, but she felt that such a unique fruit was never meant for human lips. She also knew if it could supposedly nourish her for such a trip, it would surely be better for her infant once he was born. Upon her return, she added the strange fruit to her dowery and told only her husband of her strange story. Late in her ninth month of pregnancy, her husband told her they were going to the city of his ancestors for a census. Along their way, she saw a glimpse of a familiar tree, though it was now dead and the meadow around it was flourishing. Men were scavenging wood from its branches and many of them wore the insignia of Roman soldiers. Once they had arrived in the city of Nazareth, they made a barn their home since no other lodging was available. Mary's husband, Joseph, was a carpenter by trade, and paid for their stay by building the farmer some new furniture and a few barnyard necessities. Mary began to have labor pains, and within the span of one night, her son was born. Joseph lay the baby in the manger he had finished building just hours before. As he embraced his wife, they both succumbed to tears as they saw the raised letters above the infant's head, "Jesus."

For three years, Jesus was nourished by Mary alone, and once the time was right, Mary gave the child his first solid food... a fruit beyond imaginable beauty, that smelled of rain and sunshine. "Your father wanted you to eat this," she said, as she watched the boy take in every bite. Once he finished the last bite, Jesus wept, saying, "For many days you have held this temptation from yourself. Mother, tell me why I was given your prize." To this, Mary replied, "This was a gift given by a loving protector, so that another may rise and protect. This is a gift that no one should receive unless they are sure to not misuse it." She kissed young Jesus' forehead and bid him goodnight. For another thirty years, Jesus took every opportunity to learn as much as He could about His father, and with the knowledge he received from the fruit, He was able to teach many others as well. Jesus seemed to know secret ways of healing people or even pulling them back from death. Jesus developed a following and many loved Him dearly.

As it was told to Mary, many people did not enjoy the company of Jesus. One of His own followers sold Him out to the enemy. He, of course, already knew this qas going to happen and had already made his arrangements to have His mother and His cousin, John present for His death sentence. The cross he was nailed to was of a familiar wood to Mary. She had seen it twice before. Once, as it saved her, and again when she welcomed her firstborn son into the world. Above His head, she could barely make out the words, "King of the Jews." Jesus showed no regrets for His choices, and told John to look after Mary as if she were his own mother. Mary alone recalled the promise from the tree, "He will be the first of His kind, and the last." She also knew that just like the tree, Jesus had given His life to save the lives of all He loved. And Jesus loved us all.
© Geoffrey Shelton