What are the signs that it’s spring? Someone told me this week that they had some early variety flower breaking the ground. Today we spring forward with our clocks – to arrive tomorrow morning with the sun rising an hour later, but also the sun setting an hour later. I am still waiting for my first sighting of a robin. I think they were afraid of the snow we’ve had. And then we have had major snow melt this week and with that flooding. The temperatures are rising and the forecaster was hedging on announcing a day hitting 60 degrees in the five day forecast. Of course as soon as Valentines was over, the Easter candy and baskets were up on shelves in the stores.
But for me the real sign of spring is the real Easter story! No, not bunnies laying chocolate eggs in your back yard. Jesus rising from the dead to a resurrection life. We typically see spring as a sign of new life, the trees budding and animals bearing their offspring. But we have the hope and promise of new life in Christ Jesus. I know it’s early to be sharing an Easter message, but part of the message is the hurt and the waiting and the death of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is like seeing the barren trees and brown lawns of winter that help us appreciate spring. It is Jesus’ suffering the pains of this world, our world, that help us appreciate the new life Jesus offers in the resurrection. So watch the signs with me during this season of waiting. Watch as things turn and change.
Tomorrow I will share a sermon on one of the sayings of Jesus on the cross. It will help us understand how Jesus took on our sin and abandonment [separation from God] and how he is revealing himself to us his mission as Messiah or Savior. If you are not with us in worship tomorrow, March 14, wait and listen to the podcast on Crossroads Celebration website. We need to understand the events of the cross to appreciate the power of what happens out of the tomb.
We have to endure winter to appreciate spring!
