My dad was an avid gardener. I grew up helping him plant seedlings, pull weeds, and pick vegetables, fruit, and flowers each season. Today I can still feel the scratchiness of squash leaves and smell the aroma of fresh dill. For our family, a garden was a place where life happens. It was hard work but yielded a great reward!
I absolutely love that Jesus woke up not in an empty void, but right in the middle of a living, breathing garden. That vibrant setting is no accident, and it shows us exactly what the transformative power of the resurrection is all about. When Mary Magdalene stood weeping among the morning dew, she thought her world was completely over. Then she met the risen Christ right there in the dirt, and the flowers, and her deep despair instantly flipped into wild, unstoppable joy. Gardens symbolize fresh hope and brilliant new life pushing through the dark soil. We get to claim that exact same hope for ourselves today.
There are many gardens mentioned in the Bible: the Garden of Eden, the Garden Tomb, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of Paradise or Restoration. All of these revolve around one thought: a God who loves us.
As we celebrate Easter on Sunday, we will launch a new series where we take a deeper dive into these stories – each of them showing us that God loves us abundantly. I can’t wait to celebrate with you!
P.S. – Thank you to everyone who worked to make Spring Fling so amazing, especially The Trinity School staff who invited so many families!