John Ortberg paints a picture of the Fall from Adam’s perspective that is quite profound and sobering to think about. In his book titled, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them
Adam hears God’s footsteps in the garden at the accustomed time. Always before, that sound filled him with joy. Always before, when he heard those footsteps, he ran toward them like a little child playing “Daddy’s home” when the front door opens at five o’clock. But this time, Adam’s body is flooded with feelings he has never known before. This time the sound that until this day brought only eagerness and delight now brings terror and shame. This time he runs, not toward the footsteps, but away from them. Now he knows shame and fear. This time he hides.
Upon reading this again came the realization that I sometimes fail to stop and truly reflect upon any given passage of scripture. Having read Genesis 3 many times before, I had never stopped to think about the Fall from Adam’s perspective, but rather only the theological significance of the Fall and the resulting pains brought forth that day. Certainly the doctrine of the Fall is of great importance, but there is a richness that might be missed if our only aim is to study rather than to meditate on the scriptures, to accumulate knowledge rather than to accumulate wisdom. I had missed the humanness of Adam and in so doing, never truly appreciated how great a fall it was. Adam enjoyed an intimacy of fellowship with God that none of us have ever known, having known God prior to stumbling. None of us can recall our very first sin. Sadly, for us, it is too frequently a way of life. As I try to make eye contact with my 3-year old girl during those occasions where she’s done something wrong, she will turn her head away so as not to make eye contact with me. She understands, even at such an early age what sin is, though the word itself escapes her vocabulary. So she buries her head in fear and shame much like Adam trying to hide from God in the garden. Before too long, she will no longer remember those early transgressions. Today being Good Friday, I invite you to reflect for a moment on what made the cross necessary. Remember that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and created a gap so wide that we could never reclaim mankind’s prior position in communion with God by our own efforts. But God’s plan of redemption that commenced in the garden, found its fulfillment 2000 years ago in the events we celebrate this weekend. Let us all give thanks this Good Friday that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our substitute — to bear our punishment — to die on the cross. Let us also give thanks that the height of His love exceeded the depth of our Fall. And finally, let us give thanks all the more that He didn’t stay in the grave, for He is risen indeed! Happy Easter!
