In de tuin van God- van paradijs tot paasochtend

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus' capture, as well as his burial and resurrection, are situated in a garden (John 18:1, 26; 19:41). It is typically a detail to read over. Similarly, when Mary mistakenly mistakes Jesus for the gardener on Easter morning (Jn 20:15), it seems like a superficial mistake. However, these seemingly minor details become significant when we read the salvation Jesus brings in line with the salvation the Old Testament speaks about. The books of prophets in particular describe salvation in images of nature. In this, ‘the garden’ plays a major role, reminiscent of the garden in which Adam and Eve lived at the very beginning (Gen 2-3). This contribution shows how the ideal image of the garden as a source of life, abundance and harmony, is part of a continuing Biblical lineage that revolves around salvation.