Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree

1 The tree of life my soul hath seen,

Laden with fruit, and always green:

The trees of nature fruitless be

Compared with Christ the apple tree.

2 His beauty doth all things excel:

By faith I know, but ne’er can tell

The glory which I now can see

In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3 For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought:

I missed of all: but now I see

’Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4 I’m weary with my former toil,

Here I will sit and rest awhile:

Under the shadow I will be

Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5 With great delight I'll make my stay,

There's none shall fright my soul away;

Among the sons of men I see,

There's none like Christ the apple tree.

6 I'll sit and eat this fruit divine,

It cheers my heart like holy wine:

And now the fruit is sweet to me,

That grows on Christ the apple tree.

7 This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,

It keeps my dying faith alive;

Which makes my soul in haste to be

With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Author: Richard Hutchins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SixnHKwyrjI&list=RDSixnHKwyrjI&start_radio=1

Apple trees were commonly grown in England and there was an old English tradition of wassailing or wishing health to apple trees on Christmas Eve. The song is now performed by choirs around the world, especially during the Christmas season as a Christmas carol.

The song may be an allusion to both the apple tree in Song of Solomon 2:3 which has been interpreted as a metaphor representing Jesus, and to his description of his life as a tree of life in Luke 13:18–19 and elsewhere in the New Testament including Revelation 22:1–2 and within the Old Testament in Genesis.