Spring season is when gardens emerge - digging, unearthing, pruning the old and planting the new.
The genesis of human history began in a garden. The world’s greatest aching stemmed from that same garden. The path to redemption was forged in a garden of crushing.
Jesus - His last days were not spent moving among influential ciricles or satisfying a bucket list. He washed misfits’ grimy feet and offered them a meal created by God.
Jesus - journeyed into a garden called the Oil Press. There He struggled with His own longings, wrestled with fear and grief until He surrendered to the will of Love. Jesus blood first fell in a garden.
He endured piercing torture. He died an excruciating death. He rescued ungrateful human hearts. Jesus bore our evils away.
Then an obscure character comes on the scene - Joseph of Arimathea - a prominent council member, yet “he was looking for the Kingdom of God.” Risking livelihood and reputation, he takes courage and asks Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea buries his Hope for restoration in his own tomb - in a garden.
A lot happens in a garden - sowing, reaping, death and life - analogies for our own journeys…
Turn to the garden fo your soul. Dig deep into those places of pain, of shame, of loss and know today - Hope lives! He longs to cultivate forgiveness, significance and joy in your garden.
Jesus. He has Risen.