Easter is about something wonderful that happened long ago, but it is also about something amazing that can happen today. The story of Easter can be described using 2 gardens.
In the Bible, there are two very important gardens. The first garden was called Eden, where everything began including human’s sin. The second garden was where Jesus was buried after He died on the cross, and where He rose again on Easter morning!
The Scripture tells us in John 19:41-42: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus…” So yes, Jesus was truly buried in a garden.
Now hearing of a garden, I’ll have you think about a seed. When we look at a seed, it seems so small and maybe even dead. We put it in the dark ground, cover it with soil, and wait. What happens? The seed breaks open, and new life grows up toward the sunlight!
Jesus Himself taught this lesson in John 12:24 when he preached, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
This is just like what happened with Jesus. They placed His body in a tomb – dark and quiet like a seed in the ground. But on Easter morning, something incredible happened! Jesus broke free from death, just like a plant breaks through the soil. He was alive again!
But possibly the most amazing thing about this? Jesus did this for each one of us. We as people may feel lonely, helpless, and but Jesus worked on our behalf to make us new again.
The Bible promises in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
When Jesus rose from the dead, He showed us that God’s love is stronger than anything – even death itself. No matter who we are or what challenges we face, Jesus offers us new life and a fresh start.
As Romans 6:4 tells us: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
So today, let’s ourselves live as beautiful flowers in God’s garden. Each one unique, each one special, each one loved. Some of us might grow tall, some might grow wide. Some might have bright colors, others soft colors. But all of us are important in God’s garden of love.