Of Good Friday and Daffodils and Easter and Spring

It is just over a month until Good Friday and the Easter weekend. Easter is a harbinger of spring. We begin to think of gardening and the return of our favourite birds. Our pulse quickens at the thought of nearing the end of winter’s snow and sleet, of yoyo temperatures, of parkas and gloves. And that is as it should be. But, we would do well to join the great cloud of witnesses who throughout church history took this period as a time of deep reflection.

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Two millennia ago, Jesus had you and I on his mind. To that end, he lived his short life beneath the shadow of his coming death and resurrection. Jesus came to die—and he knew it. At first his purpose is dimly shown in the gospels. There are hints only. ”Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). “The Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14). “The Bridegroom will be snatched away” (Mark 2:30)

When he informed his disciples that his flesh would be given for the life of the world in John 6:51, many left him. The statement of Christ that true disciples would eat his flesh and drink his blood, pointing to identification with communion, created a crisis.

Peter’s confession that; “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” marked a turning point. “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribe, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matt. 16:212). This categorical statement is repeated twice more. (Matt. 17:22, 22:18)

From this point on the teaching becomes more definite. He came to die—for you and me. “The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “The Son of man came…to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). We read that the corn of wheat must die if it is to bear fruit (John 12:24) and that the greatest proof of love is laying down of life (John 15:13).

The record moves on to Gethsemane and Calvary. Climactic, history shattering events. In the Gospels ten pages out of 30 are given to the last week of his life. Mark gives seven out of nineteen pages. Luke gives one quarter of his whole gospel. John allots ten pages to the same period. The conspicuous place given to this period in Jesus’s life points to the significance it held in the disciple’s minds—although not until they had time to reflect on it later. Peter had rebuked Jesus for predicting his death. Until they later understood, thought of his death was unwelcome and repellant. But after his crucifixion and resurrection, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit led them to realize that “he bore our sins in his own body on the tree,” as prophesied.

Perhaps it is coincidental—is anything coincidental—that in these northern climes spring and Easter come together. Wherever we live, may God help us to ponder and pray long and hard about the most climactic events in history, and in our Christian lives. Jesus willingly came to die. He gave his life for us. He bore our sins on the cross. He rose to give us new life. Because he died and rose, we can be forgiven, justified, adopted, redeemed, sanctified, glorified. (If these are strange words open your Bible to Romans and read the life-giving words.)

Another thought. Why don’t we view every crocus, every daffodil, every tulip as a symbol of what Jesus has done for us? After all, he created them all! When we see them let’s not just give thanks for spring but for the eternal Spring he gave himself to prepare for us. Isn’t that what heaven is all about?

(Thanks for most of these thoughts to W.H. Griffith Thomas in his book, Christianity Is Christ)

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