From Genesis to the end of the Gospels, gardens are frequently mentioned in the Bible. The first was the garden of Eden, wherein appeared a serpent. Centuries later John writes of Christ Jesus (John 19:41), "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden." He goes on to say that in that same garden was a new tomb.
The allegory in Genesis tells of Adam's sleep in the garden of Eden and of the surgical operation on Adam which produced woman. Shortly afterwards Adam and Eve met the serpent of corporeal sense. It appeared wise, but since it was a dream concept, it was unreal; consequently its claim to identification was erroneous. Its acceptance by Eve and Adam brought direct disobedience to God. The falsity of this dream of material selfhood was exposed when the martyrdom of Jesus rent the veil of the temple and he rose from the tomb and walked in the garden, where he found a woman weeping. This woman loved the Master because he had saved her from the serpent.
That meeting of the Magdalen and the risen Saviour is one of the most touching scenes in the Bible. Jesus stepped forth into the garden glorifying his Father, through whom he had overcome hate, the flesh, the cross, and the tomb. Mary, weeping and looking for his human person, did not know him until he called her by name. As she turned to touch him, he shared with her the glory of his ascending consciousness and pointed her thought upward, saying, "Touch me not; ... but go to my brethren." No serpent was in this garden, but an ascending pathway.
