Easter - The Miracle in the Mess

17th century Poet and Church of England Pastor George Herbert summarizes the implication of Easter on humanity. He writes that ”Death used to be an executioner. Now, because of the resurrection, he is just a gardener.”

There are different kinds of death. We will all certainly die someday physically. That’s our reality and it is certainly improbable to escape that reality. Well, that’s certainly not encouraging! Wait, there’s more. While we are living, we also have the potential to die relationally, emotionally, socially, psychologically. A series of unfortunate events can lead one down a trail of guilt and regret that leads to a seemingly permanent and deep pit of bitterness and despair.. It could and maybe has happened to any of us, at some level, and it’s heartbreaking to be certain.

Feeling good about yourself yet? Keep reading.

However, in the story of Easter (the resurrection of Jesus), the certainty of our spiritual death is demolished and the opportunity for renewal, in every other area of our lives, is given back to us again. The certainty of death no longer wins. It loses because it was lost when Jesus was pulled out of the grave back into life. And because of this reality, those messy situations in our lives (pain, frustration, disappointment, hurt, regret and guilt) provide fertile ground with potential to make us better, not bitter. How? When we reach for the resurrection power that Jesus owns, we can have life over death as well. We can live resurrection lives.

Death is only a gardener, not the executioner.

Isaiah 61:3 offers a picture of a famous phrase - Beautify from Ashes - which illustrates the reality that we have in a relationship with Jesus, wherein He puts back together broken things, realigns pathways that have gotten out of sorts, and makes well again the things that are unwell. The mess now becomes fertile soil, and we are now seeds planted (not destroyed), that will grow into Oaks of righteousness, Isaiah illustrates. In Jesus, we can find a miracle in our mess.

I give him my life and he gives me HIS life. Martin Luther called this ”The Great Exchange,” where grace and renewal replace guilt and regret. We don’t grow bitter. We get better in Jesus. The miracle in the mess. In Jesus, we get a do-over. That’s pretty sweet!

So, may you allow the meaning of Easter reach deep inside you today. May you see God’s grace and renewal chasing out the guilt and regret and may you embrace HIS miracle for you in the middle of whatever mess is in front of you.

Peace and love to you all. Paul